Millsboro,
DE
I have been a registered respiratory therapist for 19 years, with roles in acute care, LTACH, pulmonary rehabilitation, and management. Most recently, I am an entrepreneur and the Executive Director of a new non-profit organization, the Southern Delaware COPD Coalition. My passion is empowering those living with COPD, through education and advocacy.
Over the past 19 years, I have enjoyed volunteering with the American Lung Association and participating in numerous health fairs. I have also participated in job fairs, promoting the role and importance of respiratory therapists in both the acute and homecare settings.
My greatest COPD accomplishment would have to be when I received final approval for a Pulmonary Navigator position, filled by a respiratory therapist, at my current employer. This took more than 3 years of research and data collection and a large presentation to demonstrate a positive ROI (return on investment) - and was worth every minute! The Pulmonary Navigator has been truly instrumental in addressing the COPD-specific needs of patients, which has made a tremendous impact on the lives of patients living with COPD.
As a State Captain, I hope to increase and promote COPD awareness, bridge the well-established gaps in transitional care and improve the overall quality of life for those living with COPD. I also hope to work with local, state and national officials to improve COPD policy and subsequently, promote sustainable change.
The quote that most inspires me is “To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived; that is to have succeeded.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson