AARC Election 2025 — Meliza Walsh

AARC Activities:

• I have been an active AARC member since 2013. I have learned a great deal from reading and participating in AARC events, Speakers Academy, publications, Respiratory Care Journal and AARConnect. I was fortunate to present this past year’s AARC International Congress on a passion of mine, New Graduate Residency Programs. Additionally, I have served as a volunteer for the International HOSA Conference and participate with other respiratory therapy leaders and clinicians in Washington D.C. for Fly-in political advocacy day. I also applied and am participating in the Emerging Leader Program.

Affiliate Activities:

• Texas Society of Respiratory Care State Meeting: Road to Decannulation, May 2024
• Texas Society for Respiratory Care, HOSA Regional Conference, April 2024
• Colorado Society for Respiratory Care, State Conference, OWV Use in Trach/Vent Population, October 2022
• Colorado Society for Respiratory Care, State Conference, Standardizing Education for SMA Type I Patients, June 2019
• Colorado Society for Respiratory Care, State Conference, Bronchiolitis Obliterans: Patient Case Study, May 2019
• Colorado Society for Respiratory Care, State Conference, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, May 2018
• Colorado Society for Respiratory Care, State Conference, Ventilation on Chronically Ill Patients, August 2017

Related Organizations:

• 2024 NBRC Social Media Ambassador
• 2024 TSRC HOSA Co-Chair
• 2023 TSRC Leadership- Student Mock Interviews Breakout Group Member

Education:

• Master’s of Health Administration
  • Metropolitan State University
• Bachelor’s of Science – Healthcare Management
  • Metropolitan State University
• Credentials
  • National Board for Respiratory Care
    • Certified Respiratory Therapist, CRT, Expires 9/30/2028
    • Registered Respiratory Therapist, RRT, Expires 9/30/2028
    • Asthma Educator Certified, AE-C, Expires 9/30/2028
    • Neonatal Pediatric Specialist, RRT-NPS, Expires 9/30/2028

Publications:

• Education for Airway Clearance Treatment in Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1- Yamileth Mathers, Christina Crist, Alison Ballard, Oren Kupfer, 2019 SMA Clinical Care Meeting, Anaheim, CA
• Pediatric Chronic Mechanical Ventilation Device Choice During a Recall and Pandemic — Yamileth Meliza Mathers, Christopher D. Baker, Oren Kupfer, Mark A Brown, Respiratory Care Oct 2022, 67 (Suppl 10) 3773909; New Orleans, LA

Elections Committee Questions:

What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the AARC, and what do you recommend to address it?

Engaging the younger and incoming workforce and retaining RTs in the Respiratory Therapy Profession. I would really like to create ways in which RTs are able to connect to their purpose and value in the work they do outside of financial measurements. Connecting with leaders at the state and local level to collaborate on how we share our passion for the Respiratory Profession and bring back the soul of the work we do is something I am passionate about. Hosting workshops for our pediatric RT clinicians on how to help our leaders engage their RTs to inspire them to be the best clinicians possible. I would like to create an event of expert clinicians and leaders who can help drive a high-level practice of neonatal/pediatric care. This collaboration would help foster the passion and soul into our profession across the continuum of various healthcare organizations.

Healthcare is changing more rapidly than ever. What ideas do you have to help today’s respiratory therapist meet these changes?

The AARC/HOSA partnership, the Emerging Leader Program, and Speaking Academy are all examples of what the AARC is doing great and things we should continue to build upon. We are seeing a lot of movement in these venues than ever before. I would love to create a community and environment where New Grad RTs present and share their work with other fellow New Grad RTs with the guidance and mentorship of experienced RTs. It would be great to see a rekindled fire in our Neo/Peds Section for more dialogue, increase membership and exchange of knowledge. I want our AARC communities to feel seen and heard at the individual level. Social media has been huge in keeping up with all the rapid changes. I have seen some great leaders use social media to connect via live feed or interactive posts. It is not enough to have a LinkedIn, an Instagram or Facebook. That is a great way to reach out to all our fellow RTs. I want to contribute to ways that move past the reaching out chasm and move into the engaging phase or implementation science that the AARC is already working on.

If given the opportunity to represent your section, what would you do to increase section membership and promote engagement?

Connecting new neo/peds RT clinicians to experienced neo/peds RT clinicians, especially new graduate RT’s would be one way in which I would help increase interested in the Neo/Peds Section. Early intervention in mentorship will help us develop higher functioning and happier Neo/Peds RTs. Networking and getting to know my Neo/Peds section members would also be important as our members are our best marketers. If our current members find the value in their Neo/Peds section meetings and activities, they will invite their fellow Neo/Peds colleagues to join. Something that I have seen former Neo/Peds chairs do that I think has been valuable to the success of the Neo/Peds section is networking with other pediatric hospitals and or organization team members and leaders. Engagement and connection is huge.