Eagle Mountain,
Utah
As a respiratory therapist and State Captain of Utah, I hope to accomplish three key objectives!
- Improve awareness of the need for early identification and treatment for COPD.
- Align legislators, healthcare professionals as well as patients and their caregivers to raise awareness and improve healthcare access so patients with COPD can have the right care, in the right location at the right time.
- To improve general patient knowledge of their disease and it's trajectory so they are equipped to make educated decision about their healthcare to include advance care planning.
As a COPD advocate, I have created and gifted the Breathe-zy health promotion and disease prevention, free course to the AARC State Societies. It's an after school program that includes tobacco prevention and culminates in pig lung dissection.I have also written about COPD in a newspaper, magazine, or other publication, and have sent a letter to my members of Congress about COPD .
As a State Captain, I hope to connect others in the COPD community to the resources available so they can live healthier, fuller lives, and work with state, local, and national officials to improve COPD policy. I would also like to participate and promote research opportunities to help find a cure, and write about COPD to share my story and help raise awareness.
My proudest COPD movement was when I received the American Respiratory Care Foundation's Charles W. Serby award for research in COPD. It just meant our message was getting out there and was appreciated.
My inspiration to share is, “Quality is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort,intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives.” ---William A. Foster
State Captain fact about me- I have been a RRT for 40 years, and my passion for COPD is driven by my mother who passed away 2.5 years ago from the disease. I am certified in Healthcare Compliance (CHC) by the Healthcare Compliance Association and believe we need to partner with our legislators to raise awareness for increased funding and disease specifics.