Division Clinical Manager
Apria Healthcare
West Columbia, SC
AARC Member since 1984
AARC Activities
Board of Directors: Director at Large—2000–2003
Parliamentarian—2006
Chair–Judicial Committee—2005–present
Chair–Bylaws Committee—1996–1998
Co-Chair–Public Relations Action Team—2004–2007
Member–Political Action Committee—1998–present
Outstanding Affiliate Contributor Award—1998
HOD Activities
Delegate–SC Society for Respiratory Care—1994—1998
Delegate of the Year—1996
Chair–Ad Hoc Committee to Study the AARC Decision Making Process—1996
Affiliate Activities
President–South Carolina Society for Respiratory Care (SCSRC)—1993
President-elect–SCSRC—1992
Past President–SCSRC—1994
SC Society for Respiratory Care Board of Directors—1990–1992
Parliamentarian—2005–present
Co-Chair—Legislative Affairs Committee—1998–present
Related Activities
Chair–Respiratory Care Committee–SC Board of Medical Examiners—2000–2002 and 2008–2010
Secretary/Treasurer–Respiratory Care Committee–SC Board of Medical Examiners—1999
Member–Respiratory Care Committee–SC Board of Medical Examiners—1999–2002 and 2006–2008
Chair–Task Force on Sleep–SC Board of Medical Examiners—2004
Member–Ad-Hoc Committee on Policy Development for Medical Directors in Sleep—2007
Education
Midlands Technical College, AS in Respiratory Therapy—Columbia, SC 1975
Attended Central Wesleyan College Central, SC—1988–1989
Major: Management and Human Resources; credentials—RRT, FAARC
What AARC or Chartered Affiliate offices/positions have you held where you feel you made a significant contribution to our profession? What is the contribution and how will you apply it to your new position if elected
Although my service as SCSRC President was rewarding and provided me with leadership development skills, I feel my most significant contribution was as Co-Chair of the SCSRC Legislative Affairs Committee of the SCSRC, co-leading the drive to upgrade our Title Protection Act to a full Licensure act in South Carolina. This experience can be applied to the only remaining chartered affiliate still pursuing full licensure.
As a leader, what do you see as the top 3 priorities for the AARC, and what steps would you take to advance those priorities?
1. Continue to expand the art, science and practice of respiratory care at the international level by working closely with the International Committee on strategic goals for expansion and credentialing.
2. Expand the role and recognition of the RCP in the care of patients in the home setting. This includes disease management programs aimed at education, monitoring, and reducing hospital readmissions (mitigation), as well as reimbursement for these services.
3. Moving the minimum educational requirements to a baccalaureate level. This is being addressed by the AARC's 2015 and Beyond Task Force.
Leadership development is an issue facing many organizations, including the AARC. What can the AARC do to mentor the next generation of leaders?
Focus on student activities and recognition at every opportunity. This includes activities at the AARC Congress as well as encouraging chartered affiliates to include RT students in affiliate committees and forming committees that are aimed specifically at students. Additionally, chartered affiliates should foster student/practitioner mentorships and highlight those mentoring activities at all local and state meetings.