AARC is pleased to welcome Dr. Kelly L. Colwell, EdD, MRC, RRT, RRT-NPS, CPFT, AE-C, FNAP, FAARC as the new Vice President of Education and Accreditation. Dr. Colwell brings more than three decades of clinical and academic excellence in the field of respiratory care to his new role. He began his career at Tod Children’s Hospital in Youngstown, Ohio, where he became a lead neonatal-pediatric respiratory therapist and a passionate advocate for premature and critically ill children. His early work laid the foundation for a lifelong commitment to improving pediatric pulmonary health at the bedside through education and evidence-based research.
Kelly is a proud graduate of Thiel College and Youngstown State University, where he became the first graduate of Ohio’s inaugural Master of Respiratory Care program. He later earned his Doctorate in Education, with a focus on Educational Leadership and Research, further expanding his ability to influence healthcare education and policy.
Dr. Colwell has held numerous leadership roles, including President of the Ohio Society for Respiratory Care and Director of Undergraduate and Graduate Respiratory Care Programs at Youngstown State University. He has led ad hoc committees in improving interoperability and access to educational institutions and higher education through the Ohio Guaranteed Transfer Pathway initiative (OGTP).
“Within this new role at AARC, I am looking forward to working together, within a collaborative group, to improve and grow the educational offerings that align with industry trends and to assist and support our membership efforts for academic and professional growth,” said Colwell.
Kelly has research and publishing interests that focus on improved access to care for pediatric asthma patient populations, smoking cessation, monitored fitness devices to increase physical activity, voice recognition software, alternate palpation methods for arterial blood gas sampling and pediatric exercise testing that have been presented at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) and published in peer-reviewed forums. He holds multiple advanced certifications, including Neonatal Respiratory Specialist (NPS), Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist (CPFT), and Certified Asthma Educator (AE-C). He has been recognized as a Distinguished Scholar and Fellow in the National Academies of Practice (FNAP) and a Fellow in the American Association for Respiratory Care (FAARC).
As a dedicated educator and mentor, Dr. Colwell passionately believes in the power of education and the importance of maintaining credentials as a professional pursuit. This goal is to decrease healthcare costs, alleviate patient pain and suffering, and ultimately shape the future of healthcare delivery, thereby improving patient outcomes.
Dr. Colwell resides in Ohio and enjoys spending time with his grandchildren, cruising the high seas, and restoring antique tractors.
