Sharon McRee

Melissa Gondek

Traci Wolfe

Ken Alexander

Dr. Robert Joyner

• Sharon McRee came up with a unique Donor Ventilator Management Protocol that dramatically increased the number of lungs available for transplantation, first in her own hospital and then at LifeShare of the Carolinas, and the accomplishment earned her the North Carolina Society’s Respiratory Care Practitioner of the Year award last September. Her gift to the community was featured in this article in the Mission Hospital Scope.

• Valeri-Ann Bolduc is noted for her reelection as president of the Massachusetts Society in this article in the Holliston, MA, Tab & Metrowest Daily News. Valeri- Ann first held the position in 2003 and is only the second member since 1990 to hold the position twice.

• Melissa Gondek and Traci Wolfe talk about their ECMO transport team in this article in the Southtown Star out of Chicago, IL, about a 15-month-old boy who was recently saved by the service. “We are the only facility in the region that does such pediatric transports,” Traci was quoted as saying. “It is a very orchestrated procedure.”

• Ken Alexander touts the new smoking cessation program being offered through the Louisiana Hospitals Association (LHA) in this article in the Lafayette, LA, Advertiser. Ken is vice president of quality and regulatory activities for the organization and says the LHA, in collaboration with other groups, will provide hospitals with the tools they need to help their employees kick the habit.

• Jean Schaefer explains why mouth-to-mouth resuscitation for infants is still being taught in local CPR classes in this article in the Quad-City Times out of Davenport, IA. “We teach mouth-to-mouth for infant CPR because, as a general rule, you don’t find cardiac diseases in children,” the American Heart Association research faculty member was quoted as saying. “You usually see cardiac events in adults, but with an infant it’s usually respiratory arrest.”

• Ruth Sweezer’s upcoming presentation to a local Sleep Disorders Support Group is the topic of this article in the Quincy, IL, Journal. Ruth was planning to talk to the group about traveling with CPAP/BIPAP.

• Mike Whitaker’s department recently received two new pieces of equipment and their benefit to the community was outlined in this article in the Sullivan, MO, Journal. “We are always excited when we are able to get new equipment that has the latest technology,” Mike was quoted as saying. “It really enhances the care that our patients expect to receive.”

• Dr. Robert Joyner’s appointment as an AARC representative to the NBRC is covered in this press release on the Salisbury University (SU) website. “Dr. Joyner’s appointment to serve at the national level is a testament to his expertise and his leadership of respiratory and multi-professional care in the State of Maryland and region,” Dr. Karen Olmstead, dean of SU’s Henson School, was quoted as saying.