Waylon Nunley

Dian Slavens

• A new program aimed at reducing symptoms and hospital stays for patients with COPD is being staffed by a team of RTs at the University of California Davis Medical Center. Brendy Avalos, Carrie Lipe, Julie Cortez, Anthony Yanes, Carol Mason, and Patricia Brown were trained by Claudia Vukovich to be COPD case managers using the successful approach she helped develop for the UC Davis Asthma Network. Their ROAD program–which stands for “Reversible Obstructive Airway Disease”–was covered in this article on the UC Davis Health System website.
  
  Copyright 2012 UC Regents

• Anthony “Tony” Simoneaux receives kudos for being selected as the first winner of the Louisiana Society for Respiratory Care’s new Award for Excellence in this article in the Baton Rouge, LA, Advocate. A veteran of the U.S. Army, Tony is also a ten year cancer survivor and a member of a local volunteer fire department rescue team. The article notes he once saved the life of a young man by pulling him from a bayou and performing CPR.

• Waylon Nunley is featured in this article in the Sanpete County, UT, Pyramid for receiving his hospital’s Employee of the Quarter Award. Waylon was nominated for the award by two separate departments, who credited him for setting a caring and compassionate example for others. He was especially cited for the way he is always willing to go the extra mile for his patients by looking for the small things they need to make their stays more comfortable.

• Dian Slavens is endorsed by the Detroit Free Press in this article about candidates in the upcoming election. Dian is running for her third term as District 21 representative to the Michigan House of Representatives. The article notes, “She has fought for legislative reform as well as using her expertise as a respiratory therapist to stay engaged in health care issues.”

• Christy Ginn is featured in this interview on the Pitt Community College website for her receipt of the 2011 Respiratory Care Practitioner of the Year award from the North Carolina Society for Respiratory Care. When asked what it takes to be a successful RT, she was quoted as saying, “To become successful, you must always put your patients first. Take care of them as if they were your own family, and always stay on top of your game. Keep your mind open to new and exciting things in your profession, such as new therapies and technology.”

• Jim Braley’s upcoming talk to a Better Breather’s Club is covered in this article in the Marin Independent Journal out of San Rafael, CA. Jim planned to lead a discussion on inhaled medications and when and why to take them.