AARC Activities:
- AARC Board of Directors: Director-at-Large 2023-2026
- AARC Legacy and Legends Committee member from December 2025-present
- Workforce Recovery Task Force Committee Member: 2024-present
- ARCF Achievement Award Selection Committee Member: 2023-2024
- Sleep Section BOD Liaison: March 2026-present
- Position Paper Committee: March 2026-present
HOD Activities:
- Delegate for the Michigan Society for Respiratory Care: 2015-2023
- Recipient of the Delegate-of-the-Year Award: 2020
- Delegate Assistance Committee Member: 2016-2018
- Delegate Assistance Committee Co-Chair: 2018-2023
- Resolutions Committee member 2019-2021
- Affiliate Pandemic Impact Ad-Hoc Committee Chair (appointed by the HOD Speaker): 2020-2021
Affiliate Activities:
- Michigan Society for Respiratory Care Member (MSRC) since 1996 (RT Program Student Representative 1996-1998)
- MSRC President: 2012-2013 (President-Elect 2011-2012, Past-President 2013-2014)
- Legislative Committee Co-Chair: 2010-2023
- Legislative Committee member: 2023-present
- Annual MSRC Fall Conference Program Chair 2008-2023
- Pulmonary Rehab Section Chair: 2003-2005
- Professional Development Chair: 2006-2020
- PACT member: 2008-2022
- Achievements:
- MSRC President’s Award recipient: 2010, 2012, 2016, 2018
- State Affiliate Recipient of the AARC Summit Award in 2012 (committee Chair for gathering and submitting the application)
Education and Credentials:
- Bachelor of Human Kinetics; Honors Movement Science, Windsor, Ontario, Canada 1995
- RRT, Henry Ford Community College, Dearborn, MI 1998
- Master of Science-Community Health; Detroit, MI 2024
Elections Committee Questions:
What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the AARC and what do you recommend addressing it?
One of the most significant challenges facing our profession is ensuring students successfully complete their education. As an educator, I see how financial pressures and life demands often force capable, committed students to withdraw from programs, especially when balancing full-time work and family responsibilities. This attrition directly impacts the strength and stability of the workforce. Although progress has been made in raising awareness of the profession, equal focus must be placed on retention and student success. To address this, the AARC should continue strengthening collaborations with key stakeholders such as accrediting bodies, academic programs and healthcare partners to create more flexible and sustainable educational pathways that reflect the realities of today’s students. By aligning external partnerships with the needs identified at the program level, we can reduce attrition, support student success, and build a stronger, more resilient respiratory care workforce.
Health care is changing more rapidly than ever. What ideas do you have to help today’s Respiratory Therapist meet these challenges?
Meeting the challenges of rapidly evolving technologies requires prioritizing not only clinical excellence but the mental and emotional well-being of respiratory therapists. To ensure the profession continues to grow and thrive, we must equip RT’s with the tools, skills, and support systems needed to navigate and lead through ongoing change. Achieving this requires system-level improvements, including enhanced staffing models, workflow redesign, and a culture that promotes psychological safety. Resources such as the AARC’s ‘Safe and Effective Staffing Guide’ can help align workforce capacity with patient care demands, reducing burnout and improving morale. Offering easy-access flexible educational options such as micro-credentials and digital badges enable RT’s to quickly develop new skills and to stay current. By advancing workforce well-being, modernizing staffing approaches, and investing in flexible education, the AARC can empower RT’s not only to navigate change, but to lead it.
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?
Rather than relying solely on traditional surveys, I would prioritize experience-driven strategies that uncover real member needs through engagement. For example, using the existing AARC Connect platform to create small, diverse member groups can create opportunities to collaborate directly with AARC Leadership in generating and testing ideas for new programs, benefits or resources. In addition, developing a multimedia ‘storytelling’ space where members can share their journeys through short videos or audio clips would allow individuals to connect with experiences that resonate with their own, reinforcing the message that there is a place for them within the organization. When members see themselves reflected in the AARC and how their contributions help shape its direction, a culture emerges where individuals feel seen, valued and connected. In this environment, belonging becomes a shared experience that naturally drives long-term engagement and commitment.
Explain your vision in the role of AARC Vice-President — External. How would you encourage the AARC committees, specialty sections, and other volunteers to contribute to the strategic direction of the AARC?
As an external liaison for the AARC, my goal is to strengthen and expand relationships that elevate the visibility and impact of respiratory therapists. I would engage with healthcare organizations, accrediting bodies and educational partners to identify shared priorities and opportunities for collaboration. I would approach this role with professionalism and respect for diverse perspectives while actively listening to external stakeholders to understand their perspectives, challenges, and priorities. Bringing these insights back to the Board of Directors allows for informed decision-making and ensures that AARC remains responsive and forward-thinking. Through strong partnerships, effective communication, and strategic leadership, I am committed to advancing the mission of the AARC while striving to reflect the values and mission of the organization.
