July 20, 2023
The AARC Summer Forum in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, wrapped up on Monday, as a record number of respiratory care managers, educators, and clinicians headed home from the three-day event designed especially for leaders in the profession.
Saturday: New lecture series debuts
The meeting kicked off on Saturday morning with a Welcome Address that was followed by the first-ever Sam Giordano Leadership Lecture Series. Named after the former AARC president and long-time executive director of the AARC, the series focused on “Mentoring & Sponsorship – Guiding the Next Generation of Leaders.”
Ellen Becker, PhD, RRT, RPFT, Kim Bennion, MsHS, RRT, CHC, FAARC, Jakki Grimball, RRT, AE-C, FAARC, and Gbolahan Harris, RRT, RRT-SDS, RRT-NPS, RPSGT, delved into the differences that exist between the roles of mentor and sponsor and outlined ways to create effective mentorships and sponsorships in the profession.
Other presentations on Saturday dealt with topics ranging from leveraging strategic relationships for growth and employee retention to interprofessional collaborative practice and creating an inclusive environment. The AARC Safe and Effective Staffing Guide was covered as well, as were active learning in respiratory care, how to polish high-performers and fine-tune under performers, and the best way to utilize adjuncts in the educational setting.
Attendees were able to see the latest and greatest in RT equipment and services in the Exhibit Hall during an hour-long dedicated Exhibitor Break, and the day came to a close with a great Welcome Party.
Sunday: Topics for managers and educators
Sunday began with an Attendee Breakfast that gave everyone the fuel they would need for the jam-packed schedule ahead of them.
First up was the annual Jimmy Young Memorial Lecture, which zeroed in on “Leveraging NBRC Resources While Supporting Career Ladders.” Speakers included Daniel Whitt, RRT, RRT-ACCS, RRT-NPS, who is with the VA system, and Lori Tinkler, MBA, ICE-CCP, and Robert Shaw, PhD, from the NBRC, who provided road maps managers can use to leverage NBRC resources while guiding clinicians along their career paths.
Additional presentations on Sunday took a closer look at adverse event investigations, staff engagement, innovations in AI and remote patient monitoring, critical thinking skills, strategies for mitigating RT staffing shortages, formal mentoring programs, and medical director engagement.
A symposium on accreditation provided educators with the latest information on preparing for CoARC site visits, the value of degree advancement accreditation, and incorporating interprofessional education into respiratory care programs.
Both the Leadership & Management and Education Specialty Sections held meetings on Sunday as well, and again, attendees got the chance to peruse new equipment and services in the Exhibit Hall during another hour-long dedicated Exhibitor Break.
Monday: What’s next, RT?
The half-day session on Monday began with an Agency Update featuring leaders from the AARC, ARCF, NBRC, and CoARC who came together to bring attendees up-to-date on their organizations.
Shortly after the Update, Allen Gustin, MD, FCCP, FASA, FCCM, delivered the Dr. H. Fred Helmholtz Education Lecture Series presentation on “Ethical Dilemmas in Critical and Palliative Care: Drawing the Line Between Benefit and Futility.”
The lectures that followed focused on preparing for an accreditation visit, psychological safety during clinicals, and respiratory care protocols.
Recent recipients of the AARC’s Apex Recognition Award also took the podium to share their experiences with the application process and the value that their organizations accrued from earning the Apex designation.
The meeting wrapped up with a Closing Ceremony address titled “What’s Next for You, RT?” featuring Joel Brown, MSM, RRT, FAARC, who provided attendees with his insights into where the respiratory care profession is headed and how members of the profession can reach their career goals using the Choose, Find, Identify, and Do philosophy.
The session was based on Brown’s popular TEDx Talk.
Attendees at this year’s Summer Forum were able to earn up to 12.54 CRCE credits.
Email newsroom@aarc.org with questions or comments, we’d love to hear from you.
Debbie Bunch is an AARC contributor who writes feature articles, news stories, and other content for Newsroom, the AARC website, and associated emailed newsletters. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, traveling, photography, and spending time with her children and grandchildren. Connect with Debbie by email or on AARConnect or LinkedIn.
