To help grow the respiratory care profession and address RT shortages, the AARC has been collaborating with HOSA (Health Occupation Students of America) over the last several years to promote the field to middle school and high school students. Our Premier partnership includes scholarships, workshops, webcasts, and a booth at their international meeting.
From June 18 to 20, the collective efforts of AARC staff, members of the AARC Workforce Recovery Task Force, and student volunteers were met with excitement and great interest in Nashville, TN, at the annual HOSA International Leadership Conference. AARC held three educational workshops, judged respiratory therapy competitive events featuring students from 28 states, distributed two scholarships, and provided AARC swag and hands-on learning to the approximately 14,000 individuals in attendance.
“It was an exceptional event! With all the excitement from the students, I truly believe that the future looks bright for respiratory therapy,” said Teri Miller, MEd, RRT, CPFT, FAARC, Co-Chair of the Work Force Recovery Task Force. “All these activities and the work we are doing to promote the profession through partnerships with other organizations are making a difference.”
Congratulations to Taytum Bell of Sigourney, Iowa, and Kaleigh Handy of Elkin, North Carolina, who each received a $1,000 AARC HOSA scholarship! Additionally, we’d like to thank all the state affiliates that sent members to HOSA state meetings throughout the past year to discuss careers in respiratory therapy. Your passion and engagement made a difference to the students who were excited to stop by our booth and/or compete in the HOSA RT events!
Congratulations also to the HOSA Respiratory Therapy Competitive Event winners:
- Fiona Cito – MI
- Siddhant Mishra – NC
- Anthony Zhao – MO
- Priya Thakkar – IL
- Kaavya Krishnasamy – NC
- Garrett Crowe – AL
- Vincia Li – IN
- Angelina Shawky – TN
- Gyurim Kim – OH
- Peyton Lewis – GA
Special Thanks
The success of AARC’s involvement at HOSA ILC would not be possible without the support of our volunteers! Special thanks to:
- Teri Miller, MEd, RRT, CPFT, FAARC, Co-Chair of the Workforce Recovery Task Force, and Alysia Osorio, BSRC, RRT–NPS, Director of Clinical Education at Collin College in McKinney, Texas, for their ongoing support of HOSA efforts and volunteering throughout the event, including workshops and planning.
- Craig Rooks, MMHC, RRT, Senior Director, Operations, Respiratory Care and Acute Rehab Services at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, for providing medical equipment for workshops and learning opportunities for HOSA students.
- Susan Hunter, MBA, RRT, Tennessee delegate for providing volunteers to staff the AARC booth, including Erin White, RRT, Amy Craig, RRT, and Angel Furst, RRT.
- Jerry King, MAEd, RRT, Program Director, University of West Alabama, for generously donating time on the AARC booth and judging the respiratory therapy competitions. Congratulations to Jerry for also winning a HOSA Educational Excellence award for his work with the Alabama HOSA state chapter.
Get Involved with HOSA Locally
In the upcoming months, state AARC affiliates are encouraged to maintain momentum and engage with HOSA in their local communities. Don’t know where to start? AARC is here to help! We’ve created a Be an RT kit that state societies can borrow or purchase for an upcoming HOSA or community college event. Affiliates can also download our digital toolkit for more activities and brainstorming ideas. Learn more
