In continuing our Specialty Practitioner of the Year (SPOTY) Spotlight series, this month we’re learning more about our Transport SPOTY: Justin Misuraca , BS, RRT, RRT-NPS.
A career without limits
“I am blessed to have a job working with and for people I truly care for—we are a strong team working for an amazing hospital,” Misuraca said. “I have been supported every step of the way and it truly encourages me to go out of my way to encourage others.”
Misuraca’s career path started in the Burn ICU at the University of Rochester in Rochester NY. From there, he moved to the University of Colorado to be closer to family, starting on their ground transport team. After that, he went to Presbyterian- St. Luke’s Medical Center in Denver and then on to join the Flight for Life Team at Children’s Hospital Colorado, caring for neonatal and pediatric patients.
“When I first started in Respiratory Therapy, I thought I knew the limits of my career field,” Misuraca said. “I no longer feel that way. I am now doing things that I never thought a therapist could do. I am now blessed with the ability to share those advancements with new therapists and hopefully I will encourage them to reach even further.”
Value of Membership
The variety of resources available to members, combined with the active networking opportunities and communities helps Misuraca grow and develop professionally in his field.
“Not only has the AARC allowed me to gain knowledge through reading, I also have had the benefit of a great AARC network that has provided additional team support when it comes to problem solving,” Misuraca said. “Getting to meet with providers all over the world and see what they are doing is an amazing and inspiring experience.”
According to Misuraca, being a member of a specialty section further maximizes the AARC membership value.
“Working with the transport section has allowed us to share and gain information rapidly on best practices in the transport environment,” Misuraca said. “We are a small subset of Respiratory Therapists; therefore, we have to share our knowledge as fluidly as possible.”
Misuraca would encourage any new member to look into joining a specialty section.
“There are so many great providers in your specific arena,” Misuraca said, when asked what advice he would give to new members. “They are out there and willing to freely share information and advice. It is almost as if you have access to dozens of advisors and mentors for $15 a year.”
Being a member of the Transport Section provides a great platform for Misuraca to learn and share information.
“I love learning what other transport teams are doing,” Misuraca said. “There are wonderfully intelligent and ingenious therapists out there that have made our lives easier by simply sharing information.”
A humbling honor
“I am so honored, proud and humbled to receive this award,” Misuraca said. “I have been working so hard to develop improved safe practices for both patients and providers. I am in awe that I was chosen.”
Misuraca hopes this achievement will bring more interest in the field of safety in transport.
“If I can encourage other therapists to go outside their normal realm and start investigating ways to improve patient and staff safety, I would be so happy,” Misuraca said.
Next steps
“I am still working on the neonatal independent suspension system and an ambulance suspension system study,” Misuraca said. “These two are quite time consuming but both will hopefully lead to future enhancements in safety.”
For 2017, eight specialty sections in the AARC each selected one member to be named Specialty Practitioner of the Year (SPOTY) for their section. Criteria for this award included the nominee’s professional service, leadership, as well as whether the individual has furthered the art of science of respiratory care through outstanding contribution to, or service in, a specialty area of practice. We will feature each of our SPOTY members throughout the year in a special SPOTY Spotlight.
Email newsroom@aarc.org with questions or comments, we’d love to hear from you.
Heather Willden is the Director of Governance and Strategic Initiatives for the AARC where she works with state affiliates as the HOD liaison. She also manages DEI efforts and strategic initiatives. Connect with her about these topics by email, AARConnect or LinkedIn. When she's not working, you can find her podcasting with her husband, exploring new hiking trails, photographing, and spending time with her family.
