Director-at-large
Michael de Peralta
Respiratory Care Services Manager, Contra Costa Health
Respiratory Care Practitioner, Kaiser Oakland Medical Center
Member Since: 2013
AARC Activities:
- Military Community Liaison – 2019
- Director-at- Large Appointee – 2022 – Present
Affiliate Activities:
- President – Greater Bay Area Region, California Society For Respiratory Care 2020 – 2022
- Military Community Liaison – 2019 – Present
- Membership Committee Member – 2020 – Present
- Government Affairs Committee Member – 2020 – Present
Education:
- MBA – Healthcare Management – American Intercontinental University – 2019
- BSAST – Respiratory Care – Thomas Edison State University – 2017
- AS Cardiopulmonary Technology – Community College of the Air Force – 2015
- Certificate in Cardiopulmonary Technology – Medical and Education Training Campus, Ft. Sam Houston 2014
- CRT & RRT
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 challenges of the Respiratory Care profession are recognition, educational advancement opportunities, and community awareness. These challenges can be addressed by the AARC by being transparent and being an effective communicator to its members, the community, and legislators. With the current changes and initiatives of the AARC leadership, I believe that we are on track in addressing these challenges to increase membership, interest in joining our profession, for colleges to open more Advanced- Practice level program, and its continuous work with the legislators at the Capitol and its state affiliates. I personally did not know what the AARC and my state-affiliate does for my membership and my profession until I volunteered and getting involved in different committees. We need to encourage our colleagues to be proactive with US in advancing our profession, TOGETHER and effectively communicate to them all the initiatives of the AARC for their membership and for our profession.
Healthcare is changing more rapidly than ever. What ideas do you have to help today’s respiratory therapist meet these changes?
Today’s respiratory therapists will benefit from continuously adapting to the current needs of today’s 21st century . As a Filipino immigrant to the United States, I have learned to adapt to my new environment in order to thrive and be relevant. Like our profession, we need to adapt and stay relevant by working alongside our partners in healthcare, the community, and legislators and educate them about what our profession can offer to the health system and to our patients. We need to adapt to the latest technology, latest trends, be open to younger mind’s ideas, promote diversity, and having an innovative mindset to meet today’s needs. We will need to take stronger stance on current issues and recruit allies to support our profession so we all can better serve our patients.
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?
As a Director-at-Large I will use my experiences as a Filipino immigrant, a former military servicemember, a former Clinical Director and College Instructor, a staff Respiratory Therapist, Hospital Educator, a Leader, and as a patient to represent the general membership in decision making at the AARC.
As a former Airman of the United States Air Fore, I have learned to live on these key values; INTEGRITY first, SERVICE before self, and EXCELLENCE in all we do. I believe that my negative and positive experiences humbled me to provide a positive impact to my colleagues, my students, my patients, and to the Respiratory Care profession.
