AARC Perspectives

In this episode of the AARC Perspectives Podcast, live from Congress 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona, AARC President Dana Evans, NBRC President Joyce Baker, and COARC President Sara Veracocha discuss the vital roles of their organizations in supporting respiratory care professionals. They explore the need for more respiratory therapists, the importance of collaboration among organizations, and initiatives to enhance RT education and accreditation standards. The conversation emphasizes the significance of engaging the next generation of respiratory therapists and removing barriers to entry and advancement in the profession.

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In this episode of the AARC Perspectives podcast, live from Congress 2025,  Amanda Nickel, MSc, RRT-NPS, RRT-ACCS, FAARC, AARC Program Committee Chair, and Katlyn Burr, DSL, RRT, RRT-NPS, AE-C, FAARC, AARC Program Committee, Leadership and Management Expert, pull back the curtain on the proposal submission process and share tips and insights on how to get to the podium and the impact speaking has made on their careers.  Whether you are a seasoned expert or a first-time clinician looking to share your work, this conversation provides a roadmap for turning a "lightbulb moment" into a spot on th...

In this episode of AARC Perspectives: Advocacy Updates, AARC Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, Miriam O'Day, talks with the Legislation and Policy Task Force members, Jefferson Mixell, MBA, RRT, RRT-ACCS, and Jerin Juby, DMgt, RRT, about the recent efforts of the Task Force in expanding the respiratory therapy workforce through government actions, including collaboration with HRSA. The conversation highlights the challenges in the field, the importance of member engagement, and the successes achieved so far.

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In this episode of the Behind the Breath podcast, AARC HR Consultant, Tracy Ro, PHR, SHRM-CP, explores the practical career tools RTs need right now, including social media strategies, job search and interviewing tips, and tricks. Listeners will gain insights into building resilience, navigating career choices, and standing out in today’s job market. 

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In this episode of Behind the Breath, we sit down with Sarah Varekojis, PhD, RRT, RRT-ACCS, FNAP, FAARC, from The Ohio State University, to discuss the biggest challenges new education program leaders face and the best tips for not just surviving but thriving in the role. If you’re stepping into a new role as a program director, clinical director of education, or other key education program faculty position and want a fresh perspective on building stronger programs, this is the conversation to tune into! 

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In this episode of the AARC Behind the Breath podcast, we chat with Adam Ibrahim and Ashley Stetler, recent graduates of the University of Maryland Medical Center. They discuss their passion, insights, and fresh perspectives on the profession. They also share how their journey from student to practitioner is helping shape their vision for the future of respiratory therapy. Whether you're a seasoned RT, a student, or someone just entering the field, this is a not-to-be-missed motivational conversation with these rising RTs!

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In this episode of AARC's Behind the Breath podcast, we chat with CMSgt James Woods, RRT, USAF, Chief, Medical Enlisted Force and Air Force Medical Command Senior Enlisted Leader, Office of the Air Force Surgeon General. Chief Woods shares insights into the unique world of military respiratory therapy, from daily life and deployments to his experiences working with Critical Care Air Transport Teams (CCATT), and helping the Air Force Surgeon General shape the future of Air Force medicine in preparation for large-scale combat operations. 

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In this episode of the Behind the Breath podcast AARC member Maria Madden, RRT, RRT-ACCS, FAARC, respiratory education coordinator at the University of Maryland Medical Center sits down with Vice President of Membership and Customer Care, Monique Kimmel to discuss Maria's passion for education, advocacy, the future of respiratory care and the importance of building meaningful professional relationships early on in your career. 

Additional Resources

AARConnect Mentor Community

Behind the Breath with Maria Madden video

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In this episode of Behind the Breath, Marjorie Cullinan, MSHA, RRT, RRT-NPS, RPFT, Operations Manager of Pulmonary Function Testing at Yale New Haven Hospital, sits down with AARC Vice President of Membership and Customer Care, Monique Kimmel to discuss the importance of AARC resources and networking in the Diagnostics Specialty Section, her journey in adult and pediatric respiratory critical care, and how her mentors help shape her career.

Additional Resources 

AARC Diagnostics Specialty Section

Behind the Breath Video with Marjorie Cullinan and Monique Kimmel

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This episode of the AARC Perspectives podcast discusses AARC's newest Clinical Practice Guideline on pediatric critical asthma with Lynda Goodfellow, EdD, RRT, FAARC, AARC Director of CPGs, and lead author Benjamin White, MD, MA, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Critical Care at the University of Utah. They discuss how this CPG was developed and summarize its recommendations, limitations, and why more research is needed. 

Additional Resources

Pediatric Critical Asthma CPG

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On this episode of AARC's Perspectives Advocacy Actions podcast with Senior Vice President Miriam O'Day, she discusses progress on the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, SOAR Act, what's on the horizon for the rest of the year, and how you can get involved.

Resources

Respiratory Care Interstate Compact 

SOAR Act 

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In this episode of the AARC Perspectives Podcast, we are joined by AARCchampion Steve Wehrman, RRT, RPFT, FAARC, a 48-year member of AARC and virtual pulmonary rehab therapist who discusses professionalism, the importance of RTs, and especially how AARC has shaped his life and journey.  

Additional Resources:

Virtual Pulmonary Rehabilitation: Opportunities for RTs

About our guest- Steve Wehrman

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In AARC's latest AARC Perspectives Podcast - Behind the Breath: A Day in the Life of a Cancer Care RT, we are joined by Michelle Rausen, MS, RRT, RRT-NPS, RRT-ACCS of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and AARC VP of Membership and Customer Care, Monique Kimmel. Michelle discusses her insights, the emotional and psychological aspects of her work, why RTs in cancer-specific care are so critical, and how AARC is helping to bring the cancer care community together. 

Additional Resources:

AARC Connect Cancer Care Community

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The episode of the AARC Perspectives podcast talks with 2024 Emerging Leaders Program participants Meliza Walsh and Doug Gardenhire. They discuss the highlights and experiences with the AARC ELP program and what they learned throughout their year-long mentor-mentee relationship. 

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Welcome to the AARC Perspectives podcast! Recorded live at the AARC 2024 Congress, this episode features a chat with FACES Founder Sharman Lamka and 2024 Patient Advocacy Award winner Brigitte Trace, BA, RRT, about what this award means and the importance of patient advocacy. 

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Recorded live at the AARC Congress, Ellen Becker, PhD, RRT, RPFT, AE-C, FAARC, and Joseph Ariale, RRT, discuss Dr. Becker's Thomas L. Petty Memorial Lecture on Reconsidering Race and Ethnicity for Predicting Normal Lung Function. 

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Welcome to the AARC Perspectives podcast! Recorded live at the AARC Congress, with Aerogen CEO John Power and AARC President Dana Evans. 

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Recorded live at the AARC 2024 Congress, we chat with Miriam O'Day, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs about what's on the docket for the rest of 2024 and future AARC advocacy efforts for 2025. 

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Recorded live at the 2024 AARC Congress, this episode of AARC Perspectives chats with AARC Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) Director, Dr. Lynda Goodfellow, about what a CPG is, why it's important, and what new guidelines are on the horizon. 

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Recorded live at the AARC Congress, this episode of AARC Perspectives explores the Safe and Effective Staffing Guide and what it is all about with Garry Kauffman and Rena Laliberte. 

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Recorded live at the AARC Congress 2024, we chat with AARC members Lori Arnold and Teri Miller about the importance of state and national involvement in HOSA for recruiting students into the RT profession. 

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Recorded live at the AARC Congress 2024, we chatted with AARC House of Delegates (HOD) Chair Julie Jackson as she highlighted what the HOD is and why it's important to get involved. 

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We go behind the scenes of the AARC Program Committee. Volunteers and AARC staff join us for this one of a kind episode. We discuss upcoming events, request for proposals, and so much more. 

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Hear COPD Champion,  Russell A. Acevedo, MD, FAARC, FCCP, FCCM, story and learn more about what being given the Jimmy A. Young Medal means to him!

Additional Resources

Acevado Honored with Jimmy A. Young Award

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Miriam O’Day, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, sits down with Ron Posselt, Chair of the Compact Licensure Working Group, to delve into the intricacies of compact licensure, guided by the frequently asked questions from the Council of State Governments’ website. Whether you’re a policy insider or simply curious about how licensure compacts function, you’re in for an insightful discussion. 

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Join Miriam O'Day, AARC Senior Vice President for Government Affairs, as she sits down with Kay Moyer from CRD Associates. They delve into the crucial world of AARC regulatory affairs work, shedding light on its significance and discussing the impactful work undertaken to advocate for respiratory care professionals. Discover how regulatory efforts shape policies affecting healthcare and gain insights into upcoming initiatives. 

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Listen in on our discussion with Susmita Tarafdar, BA, BS, RRT-NPS,  2023 Patient Advocacy Award winner, and what patient advocacy means to her.

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In this episode of AARC Perspectives, we talk with Kim Bennion, AARC Board Member and System Director of Research, about her research work, the  HIMSS Davies Award, why she's involved with AARC, and her organization's efforts to use pulmonary disease navigators to reduce COPD readmissions.

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In this episode of AARC Perspectives, we're joined by Dr. Ellen Becker, an esteemed asthma educator, to explore the new six-part asthma education series. Ellen brings her expertise in respiratory therapy and patient-centered communication to discuss critical updates in asthma management, addressing social determinants of health, and the importance of home asthma management. 

Additional Resources:

Asthma Education Series

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In this episode, Miriam O'Day, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, discusses the journey of the SOAR Act, AARC efforts in coalition building, and the vital role of storytelling in shaping policy.

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In this episode of AARC Perspectives, we are joined by Karsten Roberts and Shawna Tracy, both program directors who represented the respiratory profession at a HOSA event in Colorado. They share their firsthand experiences, the significance of their presence at HOSA, and the crucial role of promoting respiratory therapy to future leaders in healthcare. 

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Join AARC's Industry Insights  conversation with Kristen Hood from Medtronic!

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Join Lisa Ely from Medline for an exclusive peek into the cutting-edge world of respiratory care! Discover Medline's groundbreaking initiatives and Lisa's expertise firsthand. Don't miss this chance to explore the future of healthcare with industry leaders!

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We speak with Medtronic's Cyndy Miller about mechanical ventilation specifically in the acute care phase and the rehabilitation and recovery phase. Cyndy is a respiratory therapist of 40+ years and has been with Medtronic for more than 30. Enjoy our conversation with Cyndy. 

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In our latest AARC Perspectives episode, Lynda Goodfellow, Ed.D., RRT, AE-C, FAARC, discusses Clinical Practice Guidelines and how they benefit RTs. She dives into how the AARC is improving and developing CPG resources and what new CPGs RTs can expect.

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Joel Brown shares his career journey and discusses the wealth of career options available to respiratory therapists. He also addresses the importance of RT education and how it can expand the profession. 

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Check out our latest AARC Perspectives episode where we discuss APRT and the milestone achievement made by the VA Maryland Healthcare System. 

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AARC President Carl Hinkson and Executive Director Dan Garrett discuss the Elevate path of the strategic plan. They look at what this means for the profession, why it's important, and some of the milestones already met.

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In the latest episode of the AARC Perspectives podcast, Jon Inkrott, RRT, RRT-ACCS, discusses the Transport specialty and the value of supporting the section.

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In this episode of AARC Perspectives, we discuss with Mary Martinasek, PhD, CPH, MCHES, RRT, about vaping among adolescents and young adults. Specifically, we review the findings of a recent study about the prevalence of vaping among physically active youth. We also dive into how RTs can help patients, parents, and their communities.

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In our latest episode of AARC Perspectives, we talk with Brady Scott, Dana Evans, and David Eitel about their experiences at this year’s Summer Forum, takeaways from the event, and how professional development events help your career. We also look ahead and discuss what attendees can expect at Congress 2022. 

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In this AARC Perspectives episode, we talk with JJ Valdez, MSRC, RRT, RRT-ACCS, a collegiate educator with the goal of inspiring the next generation of clinicians to elevate the standard of health care. He discusses the value of using social media to engage with colleagues and help grow the profession. He also shares his tips on strengthening your social media presence.

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In today’s episode, we’re talking with Linda Nozart, MPH, BSRT, RRT, AE-C, is the Administrative Director of the Asthma Education Program in NYC Health + Hospitals Woodhull. She shares her passion for the profession and working with asthma patients. She’ll also discuss her career path and what led her to this current role and the benefit and rewards it offers.  

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In today's episode, we're talking with Zach Gantt, RRT, FAARC, about  Value-Based Respiratory Care. Zach discusses the importance of getting paid for respiratory services and outcomes in the value-based model.

Zach is the Founder and CEO of Encore Healthcare, providing outcome-based respiratory programs and software in the post-acute care setting. Zach founded Encore with a vision of radically improving post-acute respiratory care delivery through clinical excellence,  innovative technologies, and the Nexus software program. Zach comes from a family of Respiratory Therapists and entrepreneurs with a passion for improving the quality of care for respiratory populations. He has se...

AARC talks with Medline to learn how they are elevating the RT profession and working to improve overall efficiency. Episode guests include Donna Mosakowski, Vice President of the Respiratory Division, Patrick Griffin, Vice President of National Field Sales, and James Donegan, Clinical Resource Manager. 

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In this episode of AARC Perspectives, we talk with Tiffany Christiansen, a cystic fibrosis patient, patient advocate, and our Congress LIVE! 2021 keynote speaker. She shares her experience with the disease (and her two double-lung transplants), diving into what it’s like being on a ventilator and the stigma of lung transplantation. A common theme shared by Christiansen is the importance of bringing humanity into patient care.  

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In this episode of AARC Perspectives, we speak with ECRI employee Brad Bonnette, about their recent recommendations for disinfection of ventilators. 

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In this episode of AARC Perspectives, we speak with AARC Historian Trudy Watson, on the rich history of the AARC. With 75 years under our belt, we are excited to see what the future holds for respiratory therapy. 

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We speak with AARC member and respiratory therapist, John Priest, who currently serves as an ECMO specialist at Boston Children's Hospital. Hear from John and how he has grown his career in ECMO. 

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We speak with this year's recipient of the 2021 award, Martina Compton, about her philosophies in patient advocacy.  

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We speak with president and co-founder of The FACES Foundation, Sharman Lamka. Listen along as we discuss the history of the foundation and how the National Patient Advocacy Award came about. 

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In this episode of AARC Perspectives, we speak with Georgianna Sergakis, Jessica Schweller, and Sarah Varekojis about APRT. Specifically, the program this team created together and what is included in the program. 

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In this episode of AARC Perspectives we speak with David Gibson. David is a tobacco treatment specialist and has been an RT since 1990. We talk with David and discuss why it's important to take time for the caregiver. 

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In this episode of AARC Perspectives, we talk with Krystal Craddock, MSRC, RRT, RRT-ACCS, RRT-NPS, AE-C, CCM, and dive into how her team celebrates RC week. She gives helpful ideas to managers and discusses why it’s important to celebrate year-round.

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In today's episode, Andrew Klein discusses his respiratory therapy role as a clinical specialist. He defines the role and discusses how it was a good fit for his career path.

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In this episode of Industry Insights, we talk with Medtronic about how they are bringing together the technology and the clinician perspective. We also discuss how Medtronic continues to support the respiratory therapy profession.

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In this episode of AARC Perspectives, Jasmine Brown, MS, RRT, RRT-ACCS, COPD-Ed, CHSE, shares what it means to be an intentional patient advocate. She also discusses how this proactive measure will help in your efforts to deliver the best patient care. 

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In this episode of AARC Perspectives, we chat with Aaron Light, DHSc, RRT, RRT-ACCS, FAARC, to learn how a Missouri community college evolved to offer a bachelor's degree in respiratory therapy.

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In today's episode of Industry Insights, AARC talks with Vyaire to learn more about how they're working to support the respiratory therapy profession and overall patient care.

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In the final episode of the Aerogen three-part Industry Insights podcast series, we talk with Jim Fink to discuss lessons learned from COVID-19 and where the profession is headed.

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Part two of our three-part Aerogen series, Industry Insights discusses the latest recommendations for aerosol delivery in the COVID-19 era. These are industry podcasts sponsored by Aerogen Ltd. 

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In this episode of AARC Perspectives, we talk with Adam Levine, BSRT, RRT, and ECMO Specialist, who discusses his plan to run the virtual Boston Marathon to support his hospital community.

Links
Adam's Facebook Donation Page
Adam's GoFundMe page

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This is the first of 3 podcasts addressing the concerns around aerosol delivery and the most recent guidance in the setting of COVID-19. These are industry podcasts sponsored by Aerogen Ltd. This first podcast explores the initial response to aerosol therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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In this episode of AARC Perspectives, we discuss the value and importance to staffing efficiency in RT departments. We'll also dive into a discussion of the new AARC Safe and Effective Staffing Guide, also known as The Guide.

Links
The Guide

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In today's episode, AARC Perspectives discusses the respiratory therapy specialty of Ambulatory & Post-Acute Care. We also dive into the role of the COPD Navigator, as described by Adam Mullaly. Adam defines the specialty and gives a better insight into this newer RT Role opportunity. He also shares how he hopes the specialty will develop and grow in the coming years.

Links
Exploring Your Options: Ambulatory and Post-Acute Care
Is the COPD Navigator Role Right for You?
Growth Opportunity: More RTs are Becoming COPD Navigators
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