AARC Election 2026 — Teresa Miller

AARC Activities:

• Positions:
  • November 2022-Present- AARC Vice President of Internal Affairs, AARC Board of Directors
  • November 2022- Present- AARC Vice President, Daedalus Board of Directors (also 2019-2020 Daedalus Board as HOD Speaker)
  • December 2020-November 2022- AARC Board of Directors Immediate Past Speaker
• Committee Chair
  • 2025-Present- AARC Future Outlook Workgroup (Co-chair)
  • 2022- Present- AARC Workforce Recovery Taskforce (Chair)
  • 2017-2019- AARC Audit Subcommittee (Chair)
• Committee Member
  • 2017-2019; 2020-2022; 2024-Present- AARC Strategic Planning Commitee
  • 2022-Present- AARC Executive Committee
  • 2024-Present-Next Gen RT Network Taskforce
  • 2020- Present- AARC Policy Review Taskforce
  • 2017-2019; 2022- Present- AARC Finance Committee
  • 2022- 2024- AARC Membership Advisory Committee
  • 2022- 2024- Compact Licensure Taskforce
  • 2022- 2024- APEX Award Committee
• Appointments:
  • 2022-2024- AARC Safe & Effective Staffing Guide Expert Panel Workgroup
  • 2021-Present- AARC Leadership Grand Rounds Steering Group
  • 2023-2024 – AARC Emerging Leaders Workgroup
  • 2021-2022 AARC Special Executive Director Search Committee
  • 2015-Research Strategic Planning Group
  • 2020-BOD Breakout Group for Communications & Marketing
  • AARC Speakers Council (Past HOD Speakers)
• Section Membership:
  • Education Section -unknown
  • Leadership and Management Section 2020
• 2021- Received Fellowship in the AARC (FAARC)

HOD Activities:

• Delegate Position:
  • Delegate 2008-2016 Georgia Society for Respiratory Care
  • 2016-Received the Jerry Bridgers Delegate of the Year Award
• HOD officer Positions:
  • HOD Immediate Past Speaker 2020-2022
  • HOD Speaker 2018-2020
  • HOD Speaker-elect 2016-2018
  • HOD Secretary 2012, 2014
• Chair Positions
  • HOD Policy and Delegate Guide Committee- Chair 2013
  • HOD Affiliate Best Practices Committee- Chair 2009-2013
• Committees
  • Ex officio all committees 2016-2022
  • Credentialing Committee 2021/2022
  • Scrutinizing Committee ? 2014
  • Special Recognition Committee

Affiliate Activities:

• Officer Positions:
  • President 2004 (President-elect- 2003/Past President- 2005) -Georgia Society for Respiratory Care
  • Delegate- Georgia Society for Respiratory Care- 2008-2016
  • Vice-President- 2002-Georgia Society for Respiratory Care
  • South Region Representative- 2000-2002- Georgia Society for Respiratory Care
  • Board of Directors, Georgia Society for Respiratory Care 2000-2007 & 2008-2016
• Committee Chairs
  • Strategic Planning Committee- Chair- 2010-2013
  • Publications Committee- Chair-2004-2010
  • Bylaws Committee- Chair-2003
  • PACT Leader- 2000-2005
• Committee Membership
  • Executive Committee (2003-2006)
  • Program and Education Committee- 2004-2010
  • Finance Committee (2003-2010)
  • Ad hoc Committee for Website Development (2003-2005)
  • GSRC Student Camp Planning Committee (2002-2006)
  • Legislative Committee (2000-2005)
• Special Representative/Other:
  • GSRC Magazine Editor- (?) 2005-2010
  • 2001 & 2003- Received GSRC President’s Award
  • 2006 & 2012- Received GSRC Mort Duggan Outstanding Service Award

Related Organizations:

• American Respiratory Care Foundation, Vice President 2024
• Member:
  • Georgia Society for Respiratory Care- member 1989
  • American College of Respiratory Therapy Education (ACRTE) – member 2015
  • Middle Georgia State University Alumni Board- 2018-Present
  • Lambda Beta- Faculty

Education and Credentials:

• BS Respiratory Therapy- The Medical College of Georgia (now Augusta University) 1990
• MEd Instructional Technology, Georgia College, and State University
• Current Doctoral program Educational Leadership- Valdosta State University
• RRT, CPFT, FAARC

Publications:

• 2019- The Impact of High Fidelity Simulation on Student Performance on the National Board Exams in Respiratory Therapy- Respiratory Care Forum (J. Brown, A. Ari, J. Trimboli, T. Miller)
• Dec. 2021-AARC Newsroom- Featured in: “Adding a Neonatal Track to Your Curriculum”- MGA’s program profiled: https://www.aarc.org/an21-adding-a-neonatal-track-to-your-curriculum/

Elections Committee Questions:

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

I believe our greatest challenge is professional recognition and identity. We have come a long way, but we must continue to leverage our resources and connections to demonstrate our value and achieve goals such as reimbursement for skilled services, professional advancement and the thrill of hearing kids say they want to grow up to be respiratory therapists. To achieve this, we must strategically unite and collaborate, listening to the needs of all RTs and our stakeholders and inviting them to join us. We must then take action to grow. Our chartered affiliates are some of our strongest resources and alignment with them is essential. We must harness the power of our evidence, expanding and promoting it while using our resources to share the story of the RT to recruit the best into our profession. Finally, we must instill professional pride in new RTs and inspire them to action locally and nationally. Through a clear, strong, united voice and vision we can achieve that recognition.

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

Where there is change, there is opportunity. First, we must grow our numbers and stabilize our workforce. We have made strides in this area, but there is more work to do. We must also demonstrate the value of the RT to those who employ and govern. We need to arm all RTs, and especially RT leaders, with the resources they need to fight each day for our profession and those we serve. We need to ask and listen to the needs of RTs and be responsive to help them meet their challenges. Community and communication are important, and we need to continue to develop a more robust, collaborative RT community– one that is welcoming and essential for each to be a part of. We must show clear pathways for students to follow and for current RTs to continue to grow. Finally, we need to strategically develop and support future researchers and educators who will be essential in our progress. Together we must share a positive message for RTs, empower them, and together fight for what we want.

Explain your vision for your AARC Presidency. How would you encourage the AARC committees, specialty sections, and other volunteers to contribute to the strategic direction of the AARC? How do your past experiences prepare you for the role of AARC President?

I believe the role of the AARC President is to serve, to organize, to align, and to inspire. The AARC has a strong vision and a strategic plan that sets forward bold initiatives that will require the commitment of many to see them through. As president, alignment of committees, specialty sections, and volunteers to work together will be essential to fulfill that vision. It will require commitment to collaborate with our key stakeholders and partners to see our profession grow stronger in unity, numbers, and recognition. I was very fortunate to have had the opportunity to lead the AARC House of Delegates during one of our most challenging times, the pandemic. Together we found ways to continue our work despite the remoteness and challenges we faced. I have seen first-hand the great things we can do when we harness the power and passion of our members, and it would be my great honor to have the opportunity to work together with you to go beyond where we dare to dream.