Clinical Director of Respiratory Care
Children’s Medical Center Dallas
Dallas, TX
AARC Member since 1995
AARC Activities
Board of Directors—Neonatal and Pediatric Section Chair, 2008—2010
Representative to American Heart Association, 2010—Present
Chair of the Protocol Implementation Committee, 2005—2008
Host City facilitator to the AARC International Fellowship Program for six years
Fellow of the AARC (FAARC), 2006
Neonatal-Pediatric Specialty Practitioner of the Year, 2003
HOD Activities:
House of Delegates Representative—Virginia, 2006—2008
Affiliate Activities:
Virginia Society for Respiratory Care President 2004
Virginia Society for Respiratory Care Treasurer 2002—2004
Recipient of the James P. Baker Award from the Virginia Society for Respiratory Care
Chair of the Neonatal-Pediatric Committee, Virginia Society for Respiratory Care, 2002
Student Representative for Virginia Society for Respiratory Care, 1994—1995
Related Activities:
Outstanding Alumnus Award and Commencement Speaker—Central Virginia Community College Alumni Association, 2008
Education:
Liberty University—Master’s Degree in Business Administration
Old Dominion University—Bachelor’s Degree, Health Sciences with a minor in management
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College—Associate’s Degree in Respiratory Care
Central Virginia Community College—Certificate in Respiratory Therapy Certified Respiratory Therapist, 1995
Registered Respiratory Therapist, 1996
Neonatal Pediatric Specialist, 1999
Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist, 2004
Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist, 2004
Publications:
Walsh B, Czervinske M, DiBlasi, R, Editor of Perinatal and Pediatric Respiratory Care 3rd ed Elsevier Mosby—2009
Wolf GK, Gomez-Laberge C, Kheir JN, Zurakowski D, Walsh BK, Adler A and Arnold JH. Reversal of Dependent Lung Collapse Predicts Response to Lung Recruitment in Children with Early Acute Lung Injury. Pediatr Crit Care Med 2011, in press.
Walsh BK, Gentile MA, Grenier BM. Orienting new respiratory therapist into the neonatal/pediatric environment: a survey of educators and managers. Respiratory Care. 2011 Aug;56(8):1122-9.
Walsh BK, Crotwell DN, Restrepo RD. Capnography/capnometry during mechanical ventilation: 2011. Respir Care. 2011 Apr;56(4):503-9.
Green ML, Walsh BK, Wolf GK, Arnold JH. Electrocardiographic guidance for the placement of gastric feeding tubes: a pediatric case series. Respir Care. 2011 Apr;56(4):467-71.
Walsh B, Craig N, Betit P, Thompson JE, Arnold JH. Respiratory distress associated with inadequate mechanical ventilator flow response in a neonate with congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Respir Care 2010 Mar:55(3):342-5
Walsh B, Brooks T, Grenier B. Oxygen therapy in the neonatal care environment. Respir Care 2009 Sep; 54(9):1193-202
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?
I have held executive positions within the Virginia Society for Respiratory Care, served in the AARC House of Delegates for two years, and served on the AARC Board of Directors for three years as the Neonatal-Pediatric Section Chair. In these positions alone I assisted with increasing membership, advocated for respiratory therapists within state and federal government agencies, and promoted/provided educational opportunities and membership benefits. I will use my experience and lessons learned to mentor new BOD members and further the profession.
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?
The three top priorities of the AARC should be assisting with barriers to the 2015 and Beyond Project, increasing membership, and constantly revolutionizing membership offerings to ensure the respiratory therapist of the future has the tools required to improve the care they provide.
To assist in removing the barriers of the 2015 and Beyond Project, I would assist the Board in first understanding the barriers to the committee's visionary finding. Secondly, I would encourage discussion and networking with leaders who have already accomplished aspects of the project. I would then assist in sharing the success and opportunities (best practices) of the folks who have gone before us.
To revolutionize membership offerings will take significant work. I would assist by using the PDSA (plan, do, study, act) strategy with proposals brought before the BOD by members, the House of Delegates, and committee members alike. I will remain open minded to opportunities no matter how big or small—tested previously or untested.
Leadership development is an issue facing many organizations, including the AARC. What can the AARC do to mentor the next generation of leaders?
All healthcare leaders have struggled with creating the future. There is an apparent power struggle with leaders of today. The AARC needs to support and promote leaders who are willing to mentor, teach, and coach the leader of tomorrow. AARC needs to follow through with such initiatives such as the leadership, research, and education institute of higher learning. The AARC could also support lunch and learns throughout the country via video conferencing or other networking event with leaders of today and tomorrow.