Leadership & Management Section Chair
Joel Brown
Vice President – Acute Care, Medical Group
ChristianaCare
Member Since: 1997
AARC Activities:
- Position Statement Committee
- Diversity and Inclusion Committee
Affiliate Activities:
- Delaware Society of Respiratory Care Annual Golf Tournament Committee, 2006-2008
Related Organizations:
- Chair – Delaware Department of Professional Regulation’s Respiratory Care Practice Advisory Council, 2009-2015
- President – Delaware Guidance Services 2016 – Present
- Vice-Chair – Board of Directors Leadership Delaware Incorporated, 2017 – Present
Education:
- RRT
- FAARC
- MS-HCA
Publications:
- “American Association of Critical Care Nurses Manual for Pediatric Acute and Critical Care. Aerosolized Medication: Metered Dose Inhalers” contributor
- “American Association of Critical Care Nurses Manual for Adult Intensive Care. Arterial Blood Sampling” contributor
Elections Committee Questions:
What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the AARC and what do you recommend to address it?
One of the biggest challenges the AARC will face in the upcoming year is maintaining membership after the pandemic. COVID-19 has pushed conferences and member interactions into the virtual realm, and the organizations that have learned to adapt have been the most successful. Some current members who were hesitant to attend virtual conferences have learned to adjust and now prefer it over live conferences. Therefore, the AARC must adapt and develop a unique approach to accommodate the preferences of its current and future members. This can be done by continuing the Summer Forum and Congress conferences live while offering some online content for those who prefer to stay at home or don’t have the schedule flexibility or funds to attend. Lastly, we should consider online formats that allow the section members to discuss important topics live. Hot topics round tables, journal clubs, leadership, new members interactions, and new/recent graduate RT round tables are just a few considerations.
Healthcare is changing more rapidly than ever. What do you feel is the main issue Respiratory Care Practitioners are facing, and what are the key solutions that you feel should be addressed to support our profession?
Now that COVID-19 numbers are slowly starting to decline, we must address burn-out and resilience for Respiratory Therapists. RTs have borne the heavy burden during the pandemic, and the impacts are palpable. Many RTs have left or are considering leaving the field after witnessing the horrors of this devastating disease. As leaders of the profession, I feel we can help our colleagues by providing the coping techniques and professional assistance they need. This can be done through education and training for RTs that allow them to help themselves and help each other. The AARC can take a significant role in the resolution by advocating for assistance and awareness at an international level. At the same time, the State affiliates could address the local needs of their members.
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?
To increase the value and engagement for the Leadership and Management section, I would like to improve the activity on AARC Connect and develop a platform for future and current leaders to share their experience and wisdom. When we changed the name of our section from Management to the current name, many of our members commented that we should make our section an opportunity for future leaders to learn and grow. We can achieve this goal by offering a live virtual year-round platform that provides mentoring and open discussion for our members to interact year-round. Many of our experienced leaders are open to the prospect of giving a glimpse into our worlds, and this could be the way to make it possible. In addition, since leadership is a lifelong path, I believe even our most experienced leaders will find well-organized leadership discussions valuable.
