Ambulatory and Post-Acute Care Chair
Timothy Buckley
Froedtert South Medical Centers
System Director Respiratory Care, Sleep Disorders Center and Neurodiagnostics
Member Since: First joined in 1977, then rejoined in 1995
Related Organizations:
- American College of Chest Physicians- Respiratory Care Section Executive Committee- 2008–2012
- American College of Chest Physicians- Home Care Section Executive Committee- 2016–2011
- American Lung Association of Illinois- Board of Directors -1998–2005
- American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest- Board of Directors- 2005–2009
Education:
- Associates in Respiratory Care- Triton Community College- River Grove, IL 1976
- Bachelor Applied Science- National College of Education-Evanston, IL, 1982
- Master’s of Science, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 2014
Publications:
- Rubinson L, Vaughn F, Nelson S, Giordano S, Kallstrom T, Buckley T, et al. Mechanical ventilators in US acute care hospitals. Disaster Med Public Health Prep 2010;4(3):199-206.
- Buckley TW. Does Continuing Education Effect Job Performance (Abstract). American Association for Respiratory Care Open Forum, 1983.
- Buckley TW. Hospital Based Homecare Companies. In: Lerman D and Linne E. Hospital Home
Care. Chicago, IL: American Medical Association; 1993.
Elections Committee Questions:
Within your role, and if given the opportunity, how would you incorporate and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion to uphold, update, and uplift the AARC as an organization, all AARC affiliates, and all AARC members?
The AARC is the organization that represents us as professionals. As such it is vital that the organization reflects who we are as professionals. The AARC should seek specific opportunities to highlight our diversity and how that contributes to our profession. As you examine the leadership or program of the AARC Congress, we see very little diversity. The organization needs to develop specific programs to develop the next generation of leaders from a diverse community. This will benefit us as an organization, as we need to appear more like the communities we serve.
I was involved in a Spirometry Project with AARC. Many of the individuals we were screening were Spanish speaking. The few students we had that were native Spanish speakers did an outstanding job of coaching and educating the clients. Where did these students go and why are they not leaders of our field?
The AARC needs to embrace diversity and create a lane for those who better reflect our profession and patients.
What ideas would you present to increase AARC membership?
The AARC has a large number of students, as their membership is often required by their school. There is a large drop off when these students graduate and go into the workforce. There are many reasons, job demands, student debt, family obligations and so on. In many cases we as a profession fail to make a valid value proposition for AARC Membership.
Those reading this are all members, and we reached the conclusion that there is value in being a part of the AARC. We need to make this value connection while they are students and continue to provide that value through each phase of their career.
Specialty Sections are well positioned to provide this value by focusing on the needs of practitioners at each phase of their career.
Role-Specific Questions:
Value of section membership is important. If given the opportunity to represent, what would be some steps you would take to continue to increase the value of section membership and gain further engagement of section members?
My personal experience with the AARC, is that the Specialty Section is one of the true values of the AARC. It is a gateway to the organization, that provides specific support to me in my current role as an RT.
Specialty Section Chairs play a vital role in determining the direction and actions of the Section. A Chair must work to determine what best meets the needs of their section and putting together a program to meet those needs. The value provided by a Section is directed at meeting the needs of the section, but also fitting it into the larger direction of the AARC. This is where the value lies. Members need to see a direct connection between their needs and the actions of the AARC.
