Director-at-large
Caitlin Coppock
Department Manager of Respiratory Care
Integris Health-Baptist Medical Center
Member Since: 2014
AARC Activities:
- Board of Directors, Director-at-large, 2021-2023.
- Advocacy & Government Affairs 2023, Educational Journey & Role Advancement Task Force, 2023
- AARC Elections Committee Member, 2022
House of Delegates Activities:
- Delegate, Oklahoma Society for Respiratory Care, 2018.
Affiliate Activities:
- President, Oklahoma Society for Respiratory Care, 2018-2019; Delegate (substitute), Oklahoma Society for Respiratory Care, 2018; Past President, Oklahoma Society for Respiratory Care, 2020; President-Elect, Oklahoma Society for Respiratory Care, 2017; Secretary, Oklahoma Society for Respiratory Care, 2015-2016.
- Board of Directors and tenure in office, Oklahoma Society for Respiratory Care, 2015-2020.
- PACT, Oklahoma Society for Respiratory Care, 2019-2020, 2022-2023.
Related Organizations:
- Volunteer Coordinator for Annual Gala, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation: Sooner Chapter, 2022-2023
- Volunteer, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation: Sooner Chapter, 2017-2023
- Advisory Committee Member, Francis Tuttle Technology Center, 2021-2023
- Advisory Committee Member, Rose State College, 2021-2023
Education:
- RRT-ACCS, Oklahoma City Community College/Francis Tuttle Technology Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 2014
- Bachelors in Sports Management, Minor in Leadership Studies, Southwestern College, Winfield, KS, 2010
Elections Committee Questions:
What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the profession of respiratory care, and what do you recommend the ARC do to address it?
The biggest challenge the AARC is faced with in the coming years is pushing the profession to new heights. This issue is complex because it will require degree advancement, advocacy, and representation, which will directly impact the success of establishing respiratory care as the leader of pulmonary health in more areas outside of the inpatient sector.
In order to eliminate the gap we currently face in comparison with other professions, we must establish minimum degree of bachelor’s being the entry level for respiratory care. With our current education requirements, there is a struggle to recognize the impact it has when lobbying for our patients and our profession.
The AARC holds the key, in conjunction with the professional partners in the NBRC and CoARC to move not only degree advancement forward, but overall the future of respiratory care.
Healthcare is changing more rapidly than ever. What ideas do you have to help today’s respiratory therapist meet these changes?
As healthcare changes, technology is at the front of the advancements and respiratory therapists must explore options to grow and adapt to the environments where care can be given. I truly believe the sky is the limit with technology and how we can use it to benefit our patients and the care we provide. We must individually commit to exploring these avenues, partner with industry to invest in technological advancements, and commit to continuously learning from what this technology and our patients can teach us.
Examples of what is possible were seen during the pandemic with stretching the respiratory therapists’ roles in critical care spaces to be utilized as mechanical ventilation and critical care experts, especially reaching hospitals in rural areas. Utilizing technology to track and understand our data around ICU length of stay, ventilator dyssynchrony, and partnering to extend our care and expertise to patients in their own homes are just a few of the ways we can evolve.
Role-Specific Questions:
Your role as Director-at Large is to represent the general AARC membership. If given the opportunity to represent, how would you use your skills and experience to advance and advocate for the respiratory care profession?
If awarded the opportunity to serve as Director-at-large, one thing that I find vitally important and responsible for our future growth and success is to engage, explore, and empower our students and newer professionals to get involved. The decisions the AARC makes directly impact future generations of respiratory therapists. To serve the position well, it will be important to understand their ideas and be a voice for them.
How I would commit to following through with this is by seeking out opportunities to hear what ideas individuals have, building and maintaining professional mentorship and relationships with them, and partnering to help them find ways to get involved, whether in their local affiliate, non-profit partners, or on a larger scale.
As Director-at-large, I would ensure my commitment does not stop with my time as a board member, but ensuring we build for our future.
