During the 2023 American Association of Respiratory Care International Congress, RUSH University College of Health Sciences faculty and alumni shined bright, receiving several awards and accolades.
“Seeing so many members of the RUSH family being honored with prestigious awards reinforces our dedication to excellence in respiratory care,” said Brady Scott, PhD, RRT, RRT-ACCS, AE-C, FAARC, FCCP, associate professor, program director, College of Health Sciences, Department of Cardiopulmonary Sciences - Division of Respiratory Care. “It was a proud moment for our faculty, staff and alumni, showcasing the impact we collectively make on advancing the standards of care in our profession.”
The annual event brings respiratory therapists of all levels and specialties from around the globe together for learning, connecting and a glimpse of the latest industry trends. It included 100 sessions ranging from lectures and symposiums to networking events, research presentations and more.
The event also hosted an annual awards ceremony. Included in the awards recipients were the following:
- Brady Scott was awarded his second Specialty Practitioner of the Year: Education (SPOTY). He was first awarded the SPOTY: Adult Acute Care in 2007.
- Jie Li, PhD, RRT, RRT-NPS, RRT-ACCS, FAARC, FCCM, received the Forest M. Bird, MD, PhD, ScD Lifetime Scientific Award – a major award in the respiratory care profession. It was established in 1983 to acknowledge outstanding individual scientific contributions in the area of respiratory care of cardiopulmonary disorders. Nominees must have authored (or co-authored) at least 25 peer reviewed publications listed on Pubmed.gov.
- Charmaine Towns, a recent graduate of the Respiratory Care program, received the Stephen P. Mikles award after submitting a version of her master's research project that focused on evaluating virtual microlearning. Her outstanding work included creating informative short videos addressing the crucial topic of hyperoxemia.
This isn’t the first time RUSH University’s respiratory care program has been highlighted for its excellent work and achievements in education. CHS continues to build an educational program that is unique, collaborative, and ever evolving. Earlier in 2023, RUSH and the University’s program received dual APEX Awards, being recognized for their high-quality patient care and education in respiratory therapy.
"The awards received this year reinforce our commitment to excellence in clinical practice, education, and research here at RUSH,” said Scott. “While these achievements mark significant progress, they also drive us to continue advancing, knowing there's more to accomplish on our journey."
The Respiratory Care program continues to demonstrate excellence in healthcare, education, and research. Integrating service and education, it has helped RUSH to find innovative solutions and become a leader in respiratory care. Learn more about the Respiratory Care program at rushu.rush.edu/respiratorycare.
