AARC Activities:
- AARC Future Outlook Committee, Member, 2026
- AARC RT-Led Research Advancement Committee, Member, 2025-2026
- AARC Policy Review Committee, Member, 2025-2026
- AARC Parliamentarian, Board of Directors (President Dana Evans) 2025-2026
- AARC Emerging Leaders Program mentor 2024
- AARC Judicial Committee, Chair, 2023-2024
- AARC Program Committee, Member, 2011-2012
- AARC National Captain, Drive4COPD Campaign, 2011-2012
- AARC Specialty Section Member: Adult Acute Care, Critical Care Transport, Education, and Neonatal/Pediatric
HOD Activities:
- Delegate, Missouri Society for Respiratory Care, 2011-2012
- House of Delegates, AdHoc Committee – Policies and Procedures / Delegate Handbook Revisions, Member, 2011-2012
- House of Delegates, Progress and Transition Committee, Member, 2011-2012
Affiliate Activities:
- Missouri Society for Respiratory Care, Delegate, 2011-2012
- Missouri Society for Respiratory Care, Missouri State Captain, Drive4COPD campaign, 2010-2011
- Missouri Society for Respiratory Care, District III President, 2007-2011
- Missouri Society for Respiratory Care, District I Secretary, 2001-2003
- Missouri Society for Respiratory Care, Scholarship Committee, Chair, 2006-2009
- Missouri Society for Respiratory Care, Education Committee, Member, 2001-2011
- Missouri Society for Respiratory Care, Education Scholarship Sub-committee Member 2004-2011
- Missouri Society for Respiratory Care, Annual Conference Planning Committee Member, 2004-2011
Related Organizations:
- American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), Ethics Committee Member, 2023-2029
- FACES Foundation, Board Member, 2022-2026
- Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), Public Board Member, 2021-2023
- Dallas-Fort Worth Association Executives (DFWAE), Board of Directors, Executive committee: President, 2021-2022
- Dallas-Fort Worth Association Executives (DFWAE), Chair, Nominating Committee, 2022-2023
- Dallas-Fort Worth Association Executives (DFWAE), Board of Directors, Executive committee: Past President, 2022-2023
- Dallas-Fort Worth Association Executives (DFWAE), Chair, Governance Committee, 2020-2021
- Dallas-Fort Worth Association Executives (DFWAE), Board of Directors, Executive committee: President-Elect, 2020-2021
- Dallas-Fort Worth Association Executives (DFWAE), Chair, Finance committee, 2019-2020
- Dallas-Fort Worth Association Executives (DFWAE), Board of Directors, Executive committee: Treasurer, 2019-2020
- Dallas-Fort Worth Association Executives (DFWAE), Board of Directors, Executive committee: Secretary, 2018-2019
Education and Credentials:
- PhD, RRT, FAARC
- 2010, Doctor of Philosophy in Education, Educational Leadership and Policy Study, University of Missouri-St. Louis
- 2005, Master of Education, Adult and Higher Education, University of Missouri-St. Louis
- 2001, Bachelor of Science, Health Care Management, Southern Illinois University
- 1994, Associate of Applied Science, Respiratory Therapy, Southern Illinois University
Publications:
- Miller AG, Burr KL, Emberger JS, et al. Staffing and Daily Assignments in Respiratory Care Departments. Respiratory Care. 2026;71(3):255-262. doi:10.1177/19433654251387117
- Marshall MF, Davis FD, Fogelman PA, Oczkowski S, Reid JC, Aslakson RA, Campbell J, Courtwright K, Egressy K, Epstein E, Green E, Hua M, Kross EK, Martin N, Melo BA, Muehlschlegel S, Perez-Protto S, Roberts B, Shalev D, Singley JW, Strickland SL, Korzick KA. Society of Critical Care Medicine Guidelines on End-of-Life Care in the Intensive Care Unit. Crit Care Med 2025; 53(12):p e2734-e2746. DOI: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000006856
- Miller AG, Burr KL, Emberger JS, Hinkson CR, Hoerr CA, Jubin J, Roberts KJ, Smith BJ, Strickland SL, Rehder KL. Respiratory therapy leaders’ perceptions of value of respiratory care services. Respir Care 2025;70(3):287-297.
- Scott JB, Browning SR, Schoenberg NE, Strickland SL, LaGorio LA, Becker EA. Factors associated with having uncontrolled asthma in rural Appalachia. J Asthma. 2024 Dec;61(12):1688-1697. doi: 10.1080/02770903.2024.2376231.
- Geng F, Ren Y, Hou H, Dai B, Scott JB, Strickland SL, Mehta S, Li J. Gender equity of authorship in pulmonary medicine over the past decade. Pulmonology 2023;29(6):495-504. doi:10.1016/j.pulmoe.2023.03.005
- Miller AG, Burr KL, Juby J, Hinkson CR, Hoerr CA, Roberts KJ, Smith BJ, Strickland SL, Rehder KJ. Enhancing Respiratory Therapists’ Well-Being: Battling Burnout in Respiratory Care. Respir Care 2023;68(5):692-705. doi: 10.4187/respcare.10632
- Strickland SL, Roberts KJ, Smith BJ, Hoerr CA, Burr KL, Hinkson CR, Rehder KJ, Miller AG. Burnout Among Respiratory Therapists Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic. Respir Care 2022;67(12):1578-1587. doi: 10.4187/respcare.10144
- Evans DL, Volsko TA, Capellari E, Strickland SL. AARC Clinical Practice Guidelines: Capillary Blood Gas Sampling for Neonatal and Pediatric Patients. Respir Care 2022;67(9):1190-1204. doi.org/10.4187/respcare.10151
- Blakeman TC, Scott JB, Yoder MA, Capellari E, Strickland SL. AARC Clinical Practice Guidelines: Artificial Airway Suctioning. Respir Care 2022;67(2):258-271. doi:10.4187/respcare.09548
- Piraino T, Madden M, J Roberts K, Lamberti J, Ginier E, L Strickland SL. Management of Adult Patients With Oxygen in the Acute Care Setting. Respir Care 2022;67(1):115-128. doi.org/10.4187/respcare.09294
- Miller AG, Roberts KJ, Smith BJ, et al. Prevalence of Burnout Among Respiratory Therapists Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic. Respir Care 2021;66(11):1639-1648. doi:10.4187/respcare.09283
- Napolitano N, Berlinski A, Walsh BK, Ginier E, Strickland SL. AARC Clinical Practice Guideline: Management of Pediatric Patients With Oxygen in the Acute Care Setting. Respir Care 2021;66(7):1214-1223. doi:10.4187/respcare.09006
- Miller AG, Roberts KJ, Hinkson CR, Davis G, Strickland SL, Rehder KJ. Resilience and Burnout Resources in Respiratory Care Departments. Respir Care 2021;66(5):715-723. doi:10.4187/respcare.08440
- Hudmon KS, Vitale FM, Elkhadragy N, et al. Evaluation of an Interprofessional Tobacco Cessation Train-the-Trainer Program for Respiratory Therapy Faculty. Respir Care 2021;66(3):475-481. doi:10.4187/respcare.07791
- Mussa CC, Gomaa D, Rowley DD, Schmidt U, Ginier E, Strickland SL. AARC Clinical Practice Guideline: Management of Adult Patients with Tracheostomy in the Acute Care Setting. Respir Care 2021;66(1):156-169. doi:10.4187/respcare.08206
- Volsko TA, Parker SW, Deakins K, et al. AARC Clinical Practice Guideline: Management of Pediatric Patients With Tracheostomy in the Acute Care Setting. Respir Care 2021;66(1):144-155. doi:10.4187/respcare.08137
- Joyner RL Jr, Strickland SL, Becker EA, et al. Adequacy of the Provider Workforce for Persons With Cardiopulmonary Disease. Chest 2020;157(5):1221-1229. doi:10.1016/j.chest.2019.09.030
- Strickland SL, Varekojis SM, Goodfellow LT, Wilgis J, Hayashi S, Nolan L, Burton GG. Physician Support for Non-Physician Advanced Practice Providers for Persons With Cardiopulmonary Disease. Respir Care 2020;65(11):1702-1711. doi:10.4187/respcare.07387
- Scott JB, De Vaux L, Dills C, Strickland SL. Mechanical Ventilation Alarms and Alarm Fatigue. Respir Care. 2019;64(10):1308-1313 doi:10.4187/respcare.06878
- Strickland SL. The Patient Experience During Noninvasive Respiratory Support. Respir Care 2019;64(6):689-700. doi:10.4187/respcare.06642
- AlMutairi HJ, Mussa CC, Lambert CT, Vines DL, Strickland SL. Perspectives From COPD Subjects on Portable Long-Term Oxygen Therapy Devices. Respir Care 2018;63(11):1321-1330. doi:10.4187/respcare.05916
- Stern G, Bonafide C, Cvach M, et al. A Roundtable Discussion: Navigating the Noise with Clinical Alarm Management. Biomed Instrum Technol 2017;51(s2):8-15. doi:10.2345/0899-8205-51.s2.8
- Sheffer J, Evans RS, Funk M, Strickland S, Zaleski J. A Roundtable Discussion: Advances in Patient Monitoring Translate to Improved Outcomes at the Bedside. Biomed Instrum Technol 2017;51(4):322-329. doi:10.2345/0899-8205-51.4.322
- Sergakis G, Strickland SL, Varekojis S. Evaluation of RT Attitudes and Behaviors Following Completion of the AARC’s “Clinician Training on Tobacco Dependence for Respiratory Therapists”: A Pilot Study. Respir Care Ed Ann 2017;26:24-30.
- Strickland SL, Rubin BK, Haas CF, Volsko TA, Drescher GS, O’Malley CA. AARC Clinical Practice Guideline: Effectiveness of Pharmacologic Airway Clearance Therapies in Hospitalized Patients. Respir Care 2015;60(7):1071-1077. doi:10.4187/respcare.04165
- Strickland SL, Rubin BK, Drescher GS, et al. AARC clinical practice guideline: effectiveness of nonpharmacologic airway clearance therapies in hospitalized patients. Respir Care 2013;58(12):2187-2193. doi:10.4187/respcare.02925
- Strickland SL, Hogan TM, Hogan RG, Sohal HS, McKenzie WN, Petroski GF. A randomized multi-arm repeated-measures prospective study of several modalities of portable oxygen delivery during assessment of functional exercise capacity. Respir Care 2009;54(3):344-349.
- Strickland S. The effectiveness of blended learning environments for the delivery of respiratory care education. J Allied Health 2009;38(1):E11-E16.
- Strickland S. Asthma Education and the Adult Learner. International Forum of Teaching and Studies 2009;5(2):58-62,64
Elections Committee Questions:
What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the AARC and what do you recommend addressing it?
The greatest challenge facing the AARC is advancing and clearly defining the professional role of respiratory therapists in a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape. The future of our profession depends on ensuring that respiratory therapists are empowered to practice at the top of their education and expertise, fully engaged in delivering high-quality, safe, and effective patient care. To meet this challenge, the AARC must remain forward-thinking and responsive, providing members with the tools and resources needed to anticipate change, adapt to emerging demands, and continually expand their professional capabilities. By strengthening and expanding resources such as clinical practice guidelines, staffing guidelines, and leadership development initiatives, the AARC can cultivate innovation, elevate the visibility and impact of respiratory therapists, and position the profession for continued growth and influence in the years ahead.
Health care is changing more rapidly than ever. What ideas do you have to help today’s Respiratory Therapist meet these challenges?
Healthcare systems will increasingly depend on clinicians who can lead teams and influence how care is delivered. Respiratory therapists can meet this challenge by strengthening their leadership skills and embracing interprofessional collaboration as a core part of their professional role. Developing competencies in communication, systems thinking, and collaborative leadership will enable respiratory therapists to become influential partners in care delivery. Through these efforts, respiratory therapists can help design more effective, patient-centered systems of care while also elevating the visibility and impact of the profession within the healthcare team. The AARC can support these efforts through structured educational programs, expanded mentorship networks, and leadership academies.
How would you approach optimizing, developing, and implementing value added benefits, programs, and resources within AARC leadership and governance structures to meet the diverse needs of our members while also cultivating a keen sense of belonging and encouraging long term membership?
The role of a board member is to provide strategic direction that allows the organization to deliver meaningful value while fostering a strong professional community. Optimizing the benefits of membership requires that the AARC maintains a clear understanding of the needs of respiratory therapists across practice settings and career stages. Regularly assessing these needs through data-gathering mechanisms helps ensure that board-level decisions are grounded in evidence. By focusing on strategies that strengthen areas where the AARC provides unique value to the profession, including leadership development, clinical practice guidelines and guidance, and professional advocacy, the organization can offer tangible benefits that positively impact members’ careers. Ultimately, this approach provides members with tools they can apply in their daily practice while reinforcing the value of AARC membership and fostering long-term engagement with the organization.
Your role as Director-at Large is to represent the general AARC membership. If given the opportunity to represent, what will be your goals in advocating for the everyday respiratory care professional?
As Director-at-Large, my primary goal is to ensure that the voice of the everyday respiratory therapist (RT) is clearly heard, understood, and reflected in the strategic priorities of the AARC. Having spent my career across clinical practice, education, and association leadership, I recognize that RTs need practical support, including resources that are relevant to their daily work, opportunities for professional growth, and advocacy that elevates the value of what they do.
I will advocate for strengthening access to high-quality, evidence-based education, supporting research and quality improvement at the department level, and addressing ongoing challenges such as workforce sustainability and burnout. I will work to ensure that the AARC remains responsive to the evolving roles of RTs across care settings and career stages, using data to guide decision-making.
My goal is to help create an environment where every RT feels supported, valued, and empowered to practice at the top of their license.
