Carrie Salmon

Daniel Polk

Dan Mazzolini

Gretchen May Fendo

Patrick Helton

Rebecca Ghekiere

Susan Musial

• Mary Kane joins AARC Executive Director Sam Giordano in cautioning readers about the downside of oxygen bars in this article in the Roanoke, VA, Times.

• Jared Patten is noted for earning his bachelor’s degree in respiratory therapy in this article in the Salt Lake City, UT, Tribune. Jared returned to school along with his wife, Vickie, who received a general studies degree during the same ceremony.

• Melinda Milsap is pictured practicing her CPR skills in this article on worker shortages in Georgia. The story appeared in the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

• The daring rescue of a horse owned by Susan Musial takes center stage in this article in the Rutland, VT, Herald. Twenty-six-year-old Kyrie struggled for hours after falling into a local spring. The fire department is credited with pulling her to safety.

• Kathleen Duffy is featured for helping to demonstrate a new baby simulator in this article in the Sarasota, FL, Herald-Tribune.

• Sue Boardman is noted for giving a talk to a local Better Breathers group in this article in the Traverse City, MI, Record Eagle.

• This article in the Stuart, FL, News is all about a church fundraiser for Sharon Jewett and her family. Sharon is bravely battling breast cancer while trying to keep up with her job as a respiratory therapist at Martin Memorial Medical Center.

• Grant Mawhinney shares great information about his new role as an anesthesia assistant (AA) in this article in the Hospital News out of Toronto, Canada. The AA program was developed to address a shortage of anesthesiologists in the province of Ontario.

• Stephen Kutchman comments on a local business fair in this article in the Johnstown, PA, Tribune-Democrat.

• Rebecca Ghekiere receives kudos for her educational accomplishments in this article in the Great Falls, MT, Tribune. Not only did she just graduate with honors from RT school, she was also named Respiratory Care Student of the Year. Rebecca, who was valedictorian of her high school class as well, will soon be working at the Billings Clinic.

• Gretchen May-Fendo provides information on air quality and lung disease to her community in this article in the Bridgeport, CT, Post.

• You may remember reading all about the professional football aspirations of RT student Daniel Polk in a recent issue of AARC Times. This article in the Fort Worth, TX, Star-Telegram tells more of his story. Daniel is currently trying out for the Dallas Cowboys, and the article relates the tough road he had to travel to meet the challenges of the respiratory care program at his college while excelling on the field at the same time. Daniel’s program director, Patrick Helton, is quoted in the story: “I was a little bit skeptical when I heard he wanted to come into the program because I didn’t see how he could do it with all the demands of football and the travel involved. But he’s been able to juggle everything pretty well. It requires a lot of motivation to do what he’s done.”

• Carrie Salmon is featured for overcoming obstacles to earn her degree in respiratory care two recent articles: this story in the Peoria, IL, Journal Star, and this one in ICC Today, published by Illinois Central College. The single mom of two had to sell her house in order to attend the program, but says it’s all been worth it. Her program director, Kelly Crawford-Jones, who is quoted in the ICC Today story, says Salmon is representative of all the hard-working students who graduated this spring.
  

• L. Jack Clark’s long career in respiratory care is highlighted in this article in the Atlanta, GA, Journal Constitution. “I’ve had a great career,” he is quoted as saying. “I do good work and have great outcomes, and that’s my biggest satisfaction.”

• Dan Mazzolini is pictured helping high school students intubate a mannequin during a recent Trauma Day held for kids at his hospital in this article in the Niles, IL, Herald Spectator.

• And last but not least, we want to share another great article about a hospital that earned the AARC’s Quality Respiratory Care Recognition. Big Bend Regional Medical Center received credit in this article in the Alpine, TX, Avalanche.