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Membership

Specialty Sections

Membership in AARC Specialty Sections connects you to:

  • A community of fellow members in your specialty area of respiratory care
  • Curated e-newsletters and e-Bulletins
  • Virtual meetings with expert guest lecturers in your field
  • CRCE-bearing webinars
  • Exclusive AARConnect online community discussions and resource libraries

In addition, Specialty Section members are eligible for special recognition for professional service, leadership and/or scholarship through the Specialty Professional of the Year Awards presented at AARC Congress.

AARC Specialty Sections are an add-on benefit to your AARC membership:

Ready to Join a Specialty Section?

To join an AARC Specialty Section you must be an AARC member. Not a member yet? Click here to join AARC and the Specialty Section(s) relevant to your professional journey.

If you would like to add a Specialty Section to your existing membership, please call Customer Care at (972) 243-2272. You can also add Specialty Section memberships to your renewal invoice when you renew online.

Section Chair Election Process

On rotation, Specialty Section Chair-Elect positions are included in the annual AARC election. Members of each Specialty Section nominate members for their respective Section Chair-Elect position during a specific call for nominations period. Specialty Section members interested in being nominated for the chair-elect position should reach out to fellow section members during the open call for nominees.

Nominees are reviewed by the AARC Election Committee for consideration on the annual ballot. Only section members may vote for their respective chair-elect position.

The following sections have seats on the AARC Board of Directors: Adult Acute Care, Education, Leadership & Management, Neonatal-Pediatric, and Respiratory Diagnostics.

Specialty Section Chairs

Adult Acute Care — Elisabeth Caldwell, MBA, RRT icon Ambulatory and Post-Acute Care — Mike Hess, MPH, RPFT, RRT icon Critical Care Transport — Jennifer Watts, MSC, RRT, RRT-NPS, FAARC icon Education — Jennifer Anderson, EdD, RRT, RRT-NPS icon Leadership and Management — Gbolahan “Gboly” Harris, RRT, RRT-SDS, RRT-NPS, RPSGT icon Neonatal–Pediatrics — Emilee Lamorena, MS, RRT, RRT-NPS icon Respiratory Diagnostics — Kenny Harker, RRT, RPFT icon Sleep — Dr. Amanda Leightner, PhD, MHHS, RRT, RRT-SDS, CCSH, RPSGT, RST icon
AARC Specialty Sections

Adult Acute Care Specialty Section

Designed for Respiratory Therapists working in the Adult Acute Care setting. Members connect with each other to network and optimize their patient care skills.

Ambulatory and Post-Acute Care Specialty Section

This section brings together a diverse and passionate group of respiratory therapists. They remain dedicated to promoting and facilitating respiratory wellness throughout the continuum of care for people with chronic and urgent health conditions that affect breathing; as well as, enhancing awareness of these conditions and their impacts.

Critical Care Transport Specialty Section

In this section, you’ll find seasoned transport therapists and those interested in learning more about the specialty. Critical Care Transport represents the needs of transport RTs to the AARC, to the wider transport community, and to our colleagues in the other specialty areas.

Education Specialty Section

As a professional community of educators in respiratory care, the Education Section ensures your concerns are heard. They also provide networking and other benefits to help members stay ahead as they work to maintain the viability and integrity of your programs.

Leadership and Management Specialty Section

Geared toward respiratory care leaders, this section connects you with colleagues to share resources and tips, overcome challenges, and enhance professional development skills.

Neonatal–Pediatrics Speciality Section

The Neonatal-Pediatrics Section is the only community of RTs in the nation focusing specifically on the care and treatment of our youngest patients. This section brings together RTs who care for young patients, helping them collaborate and grow together, all for the betterment of patient care.

Respiratory Diagnostics Specialty Section

Whether working full time in a pulmonary function lab or performing occasional bedside tests, this section brings together RTs if you’re fascinated by the rapidly developing field of respiratory diagnostics.

Sleep Speciality Section

Members of this section can be found working full time in a polysomnography lab or running a sleep center. The section is also open to anyone just curious about the Sleep Specialty and interested in the field of polysomnography.

SPOTY Awards

Nominate a member who deserves special recognition for professional service, leadership and/or scholarship.