AARC Summer Forum July 15, 2015

The Value of Professional Involvement

Conflict Of Interest

I have no real or perceived conflict of interest regarding this presentation

The Man Who Started It

Bill Morrison

1974 While a student at the University of Chicago Hospitals and Clinics School of Respiratory Therapy

Program Director Asked me a simple question and a follow-up

What he asked changed my life and career

I am eternally grateful to him

Were it not for him, most of this might not have occurred

Becoming A Member

Bill provided application form

I completed and mailed it

Became a member of AART and Illinois Society for Respiratory Care

I was a typical member

Paid dues, received publications (read them occasionally), voted,

bought liability insurance

Tried to stay current

Becoming an ACTIVE Member

1977 moved to Ankeny Iowa for job

Colleague suggested I agree to be nominated for Iowa Society for Respiratory Therapy Board

Elected Treasurer of IaSRC in 1978 “The Box”

Became involved with Society and began to learn more about the AARC

Began to look at how to assist next person to be Treasurer

Began to look at what else I might do

Two years later elected to House of Delegates

Where Might I ContributeThe more I became involved, the more involved

I wanted to be

Met many of the leaders of the profession while a delegate

Saw some of the role of the Board of Directors

Began to understand differing roles of House of Delegates and Board of Directors

Thought “I don’t have the experience or knowledge the “leaders of the profession” had

Really enjoyed experience and learning I experienced in role of Delegate

Desired to learn enough to perhaps be a member of the Board of Directors in the future

You Gotta Have Mentors

President of AARC my first year in the House of Delegates

Acted as Executive Director while President

Demonstrated his passion for profession and Association

Always focused on what is best for the patient

Long time face and voice of the profession

Extremely proud that he presentedme with the Jimmy A.

Young Medal in 2013

Mentors

President of the AARC in 1982

A quiet, effective leader of the profession

Stayed involved after Presidency

Has been in many roles in health care

Continues to be advocate for respiratory care

Shares his knowledge with the profession

Challenges others to take leadership roles

Remembers his roots

Affiliate Involvement

Served four years in House of Delegates

Continued involvement in affiliate activities while in House

Served in every office except Secretary

Had opportunity to serve as President of IaASRC in 1986

Could I Maybe Contribute

Began to think, maybe I have something more to contribute

Feel I have gained far more than I have contributed

Be persistent, may not succeed first time

Lost more elections than I won

Keep after your goal

Look for any way you can contribute and learn

Identify Your Passions

Identify what it is about which you are passionate

Understand why you are passionate about those things

Cultivate that passion and do all you can to be involved with those passions

Likely will identify others as you go forward

Be Prepared

Understand the role before assuming it

Surround yourself with good people

Lots of information is provided - read it before you travel to the meeting

Spend time every week on your role

Keep in contact with other leaders

Work at it as you would any other job

Ask lots and lots of questions

Two Ears, One Mouth

You can learn a great deal by listening

Ask questions and really listen to the answers

Pay attention to those who are leading

You seldom learn anything new while talking

Spend as much time around mentors as you can

Emulate those you admire

A Supportive EmployerDes Moines Area Community College has enabled me to be as involved

Supported me financially

Allowed me to be gone for meetings, conferences, education

Supported substitutes during absences

Supportive Colleagues

Gerald Peterson

Jane Troy-Murphy

Glenn Goodwin

Pat Leisy

Larry Barrett

Vicki Claussen

Mel Martin

Trudy Watson

Charlie Brooks

A Supportive Family

Never Stop Learning

Learn something new about respiratory care every day

Learn something new about health care every day

Learn something new about leadership every day

Learn something new about lifeevery day

Learn a new way to contribute backevery day

Branching Out

Look beyond your specific profession

American Lung Association

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs

Health Data Collaborative

Health Professions Network

Identify future leaders

Be aware of those who have interest in contributing

Cultivate their interest

Assist in identifying their passions

Guide them to where you see their strengths to be

Assist them to become involved

Push them when they need it

Our Program Goals

Provide opportunity to learn the knowledge, skills, attitudes and abilities needed to begin a successful career in respiratory therapy

Develop desire and ability to become a life-long learner

Develop graduates into professional respiratory therapists

Ramp up student interest

Share your passion with them

Instill professionalism into every class meeting

Demonstrate the behaviors you want them to develop

Connect them with opportunities for involvement

Hopefully each student identifies at least one area for which they have a passion

Required “Volunteerism”Each clinical class requires

volunteer hours

Challenge students to identify some activity/organization in which they have interest

Assist them to get connected

Hopefully they identify an area of passion

Require reflection on the experiences

Legends I have Known

Questions???