AARC Election 2025 — Gary Wickman

AARC Activities:

• AARC Board of Directors, 2012-2015
• Chair, AARC Membership Committee, 2013-2016
• Chair, AARC Bylaws Committee, 2011
• Member, AARC Government Affairs Committee 2013-present
• Member AARC Bylaws Committee, 2010-2011
• Member, AARC Membership Committee-2017
• Board Liaison to the Informatics Round Table-2014 & 2015
• CoBGRTE Liaison for the AARC Board-2018-2020
• Member, Management Section 2000-2018
• Member, COPD Best Practices Round Table-since 2014
• Member, Informatics Round Table, 2014-2015
• Member, PACT Community 2000 to present
• Member, FAARC Community 2010 to present
• Member Education Section, 2016-2020

HOD Activities:

• Delegate, Respiratory Care Society of Washington, 1994-1997 and 2006-2009
• Chair, Progress and Transition Committee, 1997
• Chair, Chartered Affiliates Committee, 2007-2009
• Member, Elections Committee, 2006
• Member, Legislative Affairs Committee, 2008-2009

Affiliate Activities:

• President, Respiratory Care Society of Washington, 1999
• President Elect, Respiratory Care Society of Washington, 1998
• Past President, Respiratory Care Society of Washington, 2000
• Member Board of Directors At Large, Respiratory Care Society of Washington, 1993-1994
• President, Cascade Chapter, Respiratory Care Society of Washington, 1991
• Chair, Legislative Committee, 2000-2013, 2016-2023
• Program Chair, Cascade Chapter Conference, 1990
• PACT Representative in Washington, DC, 2002-present
• Robert A Bonner Award for Outstanding Professional Service to the Respiratory Care Society of Washington, 2017

Related Organizations:

• Member of CoBGRTE, 2014 to present
• Member, Ad Hoc Committee, Washington State Respiratory Care Licensure Board, 2000-present
• Member, Novation Respiratory Council, 2004-2007, Chair, Novation Respiratory Council, 2006
• Member, Providence Respiratory Resource Group, 1994-2016, Chair, Providence Respiratory Resource Group, 2002-2004

Education:

• MSRCL, Northeastern University 2016
• BA, Illinois Wesleyan University, 1972
• Respiratory Care Program Graduate, Skagit Valley College, 1984
• RRT, 1986
• FAARC, 2010

Publications:

• “A Utilization Review of Incentive Spirometry and Chest Physiotherapy”, AARC Congress Open Forum Abstract, 1989
• “Savings Associated with Therapist-Driven Protocols for Bronchodilators”, AARC Congress Abstract, 1992
• “Advocacy, A Primer on How to Manage a Bill Through Your Legislature””, AARC Times Article, September 2011
• “Can the use of a fast track protocol increase the number of open heart surgery patients extubated in 6 hours?” AARC International Congress Open Forum Abstract 2014

Elections Committee Questions:

What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the AARC, and what do you recommend to address it?

The biggest challenge is exceeding the needs of members and potential members of the AARC. In order to exist, we need to have members. In order to keep current members and add new members, we need to understand what they want in a professional organization. The current strategic direction is a great start. Engaging our members and nonmembers to a more inclusive and diverse community will help. We can continue to elevate the profession by gaining recognition in our workplaces, in legislation, and in the public domain. We can gain more recognition through advocacy. We are making headway on that level, but we need to continue to place resources and work in the advocacy pillar both on the national and the state levels. We can also gain recognition through education. Providing premier education to the profession is a good start. We also need to continue to educate our legislators, our C-suites in our workplaces, and the public so we can provide value to our patients and to them.

Healthcare is changing more rapidly than ever. What ideas do you have to help today’s respiratory therapist meet these changes?

We need to attack this issue on several levels. We need to support new research and science to be able to help advance the care we provide. We need to continue to develop science based clinical practice guidelines that our profession can use at the bedside. We need to show that we can be nimble and be able to change practice when we learn new ways to provide care. We also need to continue to provide high quality education at our national and state conferences but also online. We then need to continue to advocate to our legislators and our C-suites, so they know what value Respiratory Therapists bring to our patients and our community. We need to be at the table so that we can be part of the solution.

Share your thoughts about how you can encourage the AARC Committees, Specialty Sections, and Special Representatives to contribute to the strategic plan for the AARC. How do you see your role in this process?

I think my experience as a member of, or leader of, many committees both on the state and national levels will help me be able to listen to the ideas and concerns brought forward by the committees and specialty sections of the AARC. My role as Secretary/Treasurer is an important one on the board being intimately involved in the finances of the AARC which are needed to support the activities aligned with the strategic plan as I addressed in my earlier answers specifically. I see this role as an advocate to the board from these groups. My experience as a leader in a hospital setting and as an educator provides me with experience in listening to issues, being at the table to help find solutions, and educating on those solutions.