Secretary — External
Kari Woodruff Neville
Senior Clinical Specialist
Bunnell Inc.
Member Since: 1997
AARC Activities:
- AARC Director at Large 2018 – present
- AARC BOD Policy Review Committee 2019 – present
- AARC Judicial committee 2021 – present
- AARC Committee on Oxygen Safety on Airlines 2021 – 2022
- AARC Membership Committee 2016 – present
- AARC Fellow Class of 2016
- Member Neonatal/Pediatric Specialty Section 2000 – present
HOD Activities:
- Delegate Colorado Society for Respiratory Care 2013 – 2018
- Substitute Delegate Colorado Society 2007 – 2013
- HOD Secretary 2014
- Delegate of the Year 2017
- CoChair Ad Hoc Affiliate Strengthening 2017 – 2018
- CoChair Delegate Assistance 2015 – 2018
- CoChair Best Practices 2013 – 2014
- Member Bylaws Committee 2013 – 2018
- Member Scrutinizing Committee 2013 – 2018
- Member Best Practices Committee 2011 – 2014
Affiliate Activities:
- President Colorado Society for Respiratory Care 2008 – 2010; President Elect 2007 – 2008; Past President 2010 – 2011; Vice President 2005 – 2007, 2011 – 2013; Delegate 2013 – 2018
- Board of Directors Colorado Society 2005 – 2018
- CSRC John Wolfe Award society award for outstanding contribution to the awareness and prevention of respiratory diseases in our community 2011
- CSRC Program Committee Chair 2011 – 2018
- CSRC Program Committee Speaker Chair 2004 – 2011
- CSRC Elections Committee Chair 2005 – 2007, 2011 – 2013
- CSRC Student Chapter Originator and Chair 2007 – 2011
- CSRC Webmaster 2005 – 2018
- CSRC Licensure Committee Member 2005 – 2018
- CSRC Elections Committee Member 2005 – 2018
- CSRC Membership Committee Member 2011 – 2018
- Liaison to Colorado licensure board 2007 – 2018
- Liaison to CSRC Corporate Partner Program 2005 – 2018
Related Organizations:
- Member Lambda Beta Honor Society
- Advisory Board Member Pickens Technical Institute 2019 – present
- Advisory Board Chair Pima Medical Institute of Denver 2005 – 2009
- Advisory Board Member Pima Medical Institute of Denver 2011 – 2019
- Certified Pediatric Advanced Life Support Instructor/Trainer American Heart Association 2002 – 2009
- S.T.A.B.L.E Instructor/trainer The S.T.A.B.L.E Program 2000 – 2005
Education:
- BSRC University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston TX 1998
- CRT 1998
- RRT 1999
- NPS 2002
Publications:
- AARC Times author 2016
- AARC Times. contributor 2018
- AARC Career News contributor 2010, 2016
Elections Committee Questions:
What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the AARC and what do you recommend to address it?
With the recent Pandemic, visibility of Respiratory Therapists has increased significantly. Many members and nonmembers do not feel they are represented as well as they should be by the media and the AARC. Many Respiratory Therapists do not understand what the AARC does for them the relationship the AARC has with the NBRC, COARC, ARCF, and other like organizations. Our challenge is to change the negative perception of the organization, be more visible, be more transparent in the processes of the AARC, and help publicize exactly how the AARC benefits the profession. The board is already off to a good start with it’s recent strategic planning sessions and so many opportunities to re-engage the members. I would like to continue to contribute to these efforts by increasing our resources toward public relations as well as providing tools to our affiliates to educate not only nonmembers but the public about our amazing profession.
What ideas do you have to help todays Respiratory Therapist recover from the pandemic and what do you feel is the main issue Respiratory Care Practitioners are facing, and what key solutions should be addressed to support our profession?
Respiratory Therapy has proven to be an integral part of the patient care team. Being among one of the newer professions on this healthcare team, it is still operating with a lower level of education therefore a lower level of respect in the healthcare setting. Moving toward RRT/Bachelors degree minimum and the Advanced level practitioner will raise the bar for our profession. The board has already been working toward these goals as well as legislation that improves reimbursement for these higher level practitioners. One of our problems in pushing forward is lack of membership which in turn means lack of representation when fighting for legislation. We not only need to move forward with tools to help educational institutions raise the level of education but with increasing support through membership. I would like to work with to board and the membership committee on growing our membership so we have more power to move these initiatives forward. Our voice needs to be louder!
Role-Specific Questions:
Promoting the profession is considered one of the greatest opportunities, what are your ideas to help realize this opportunity?
I have always had a passion for growing our young leaders, and I believe this is key to moving the organization and profession forward. During my current term as Director at Large, I have been working on committees that have focused on the engagement of this younger generation through transparency and increasing our social media presence. Previously, at the state level, I developed a student chapter that is still very involved in the recruitment of new members as well as new leaders within the state of Colorado. Over the past few years, I have provided guidance to several states on how to start such programs. I would like to help more affiliates to engage students at a level that will help with the retention and growth of our future leaders. I would also like to help the AARC create ways to communicate more effectively to the public about the value of the respiratory care professional through an increased presence in social media and public media outlets.
