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2007
Annual Conference in Pocatello
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| This year’s Conference will be held on the Idaho State
University campus on Thursday and Friday, September 13 and 14. The annual
meeting is a great way to accrue continuing education credits, meet old
and new colleagues and have some fun in a relaxed atmosphere. Program Coordinator
Carrie Massey gives a partial list of learning objectives: |
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Improve knowledge and skills with advances and changes in
ventilation of neonates
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Provide a systematic approach to chest radiograph interpretation
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Have a better understanding of carbon monoxide poisoning
and non-invasive monitoring for CO
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Improve clinical applications of ventilator graphics
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Improve the respiratory therapist’s approach to bronchial
hygiene strategies
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Increased awareness of new and current therapeutic agents
used in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension
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Learn the role of the Respiratory Therapist for transport
& disaster
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Establish a better understanding of new techniques available
in prolonged mechanical ventilation
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Understand the differences in mechanical ventilation for
the morbidly obese population
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| Distinguished presenters include: Vijay Deshpande, a
noted respiratory care educator and recently retired from Georgia State
University; John Davies from Duke University Medical Center is an established
clinical researcher in adult critical care medicine; and Dr. Kent Christopher
from Denver, a pulmonary specialist who started his career as a respiratory
therapist. |
| The program is all day Thursday (9/13) and through mid-afternoon
Friday (9/14). It totals at least 12 continuing education hours. As usual,
a comprehensive exhibit of respiratory and sleep related products and services
will be on display. Entertainment will include a Sputum Bowl Thursday evening
followed by a party. |
Fees are:
AARC members & physicians…$50.00 1 Day
/ $70.00 2 Day
Non AARC members…………... $80.00 1 Day /
$120.00 2 Day
Students…………………….…… $25.00 |
| Special ~ Both Days & AARC membership…….$150.00 |
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| The program brochure and hotel information is available
at http://www.idasrc.org/ISRC_conference_brochure_2007.pdf
. A registration form can also be found at www.idasrc.org
along with an AARC membership applicaiton. Click on ISRC Conference in
the upper-left of the page. |
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President's
Message
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Michele
Andrew, MS, RCPT
| Thanks to Senator Hill and the
Coalition for a Healthy Idaho and Tobacco Free Idaho, we no longer have
smoking in Bowling Alleys. One big deciding point was when Senator Hill's
granddaughter (she's 8 years old and her daddy died from lung cancer) testified
that she liked to bowl, and they didn't want to "kill a kid"—did they? |
| The AARC House of Delegates was successful according
to Debbie Fox, Chairman. We'll be looking forward to Carla and Kelly giving
us the report. |
| Keep letting your legislators know your feelings on the
bills in Congress that affect our profession. The more e-mails, letters
and calls they get, the better. They are our representatives in national
government and need to understand how their constituents feel about the
issues. |
| Remember the State conference in September. Carrie is
very busy getting great speakers and vendors. Support our state association
by attending plus get your CEUs for licensure. |
| Camp Super Breathers is August 5-10. We have a great
staff and 35+ kids. Our theme is Wilderness Olympics. Send any scholarship
money you collect to the American Lung Association. There is NO CHARGE
for the kids to come to camp—so scholarships are needed. |
| Have a great August and we'll see
you in September. |
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Asthma
Educator Institute
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A comprehensive two-day advanced
course for licensed health care providers engaged in asthma education will
be held in Boise on August 22 & 23. Completing this training course
will help prepare for the national Certified Asthma Educator exam. The
Institute will be held at the AmeriTel Inn – Boise Spectrum. Cost is $250.
Agenda and registration information is at http://www.lungidaho.org/
(toward the bottom right side of page) or on the ISRC Education page.
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2008
Officer and Director
Candidates
Statements
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| The individuals nominated for 2008 ISRC positions give
a brief biographical sketch. Active and Life ISRC Members, watch for your
election ballot soon. |
| Tammy
"Nikkie" Stephens - President-elect |
| I am a native Floridian that moved
to Idaho in 2003 after completing my Associates Degree in Respiratory Therapy.
I previously was an advanced Licensed Practical Nurse and had been working
in the hospital setting for 12 years. In those 12 years, I worked in Peds,
PICU, Oncology, PCU and Med Surg. I decided that it was time for a change
in careers and decided to follow through with getting my degree from Valencia
Community College in Orlando, Florida. After being in Twin Falls for a
year, I decided to complete my Bachelor degree at Boise State University.
I graduated in May of 2005. I have worked at St. Luke's Magic Valley Regional
Medical Center since 2003. |
| I feel that the move to Idaho was
the best decision of my life. I have continued to learn the craft of Respiratory
Therapy and have been given the gift to help new and upcoming Respiratory
Therapists by teaching and mentoring at the new program at Idaho State
University, along with working closely with California College of Health
Sciences. |
| I enjoy outdoor activities, such
as camping, hiking and just watching the stars at night. |
| Carrie Massey - Treasurer |
| I have been the clinical educator for the Respiratory
Dept at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls for the past
four years and I also serve as the clinical and laboratory instructor for
ISU Respiratory program. I am currently working on the development of Therapist
Driven protocols, attending BSU, coordinating the advancement of our NICU
to a Level 3 unit and on the Disaster preparation education planning committee
with the AARC. |
| I enjoy volunteering my time and knowledge to improve
Respiratory Care practices. |
| Steve Schaal - Director
at Large |
| I began my Respiratory career at EIRMC in Idaho Falls,
ID March of 1976 as a Respiratory assistant. Respiratory education - Graduated
with honors from Bio-Systems Institute in Tempe, AZ 1981. I worked at EIRMC
for 20 years as a staff therapist, shift supervisor, and assistant director
of Respiratory Services. Then I worked at Gooding County Memorial Hospital
as Director of Ancillary Services to include leadership, direction and
oversight for: Respiratory Services, Pharmacy, Laboratory, Physical Therapy,
Medical Imaging, Performance Improvement, Risk Management and Policy and
Forms committee chair. I am presently employed at Minidoka Memorial Hospital
in Rupert as Director of Respiratory Services. |
| I am an active Member and supporter of the AARC/ISRC
and have served as an ISRC Delegate to the AARC as well as a Director on
the Idaho State Respiratory Licensure Board. While living in Gooding, I
served on the Gooding Chamber of Commerce Board for four years and President
for one year of that term. |
| I enjoy the out of doors, fishing, boating, woodworking,
singing and playing guitar. |
| Mark Wood - Director
at Large |
| I worked 10 years in the food industry as a cook, waiter,
manager, dairy processor, grocery manger and delivery truck driver, before
attending BSU and finally graduating with a BS in RT. I have worked at
St. Alphonsus RMC for 21 years, and have been a preceptor of RT clinical
students at BSU for many years. I recently conducted a study on stethoscopes,
which was published in the May 2007 issue of the American Journal of Infection
Control. |
| I have been married 29 years to wife Marylinn. She volunteers
at SARMC with our Yorkie "Misty" in pet therapy and at Asthma Camp Super
Breathers. We have two grown sons, Jeremy and Andy, both married. I have
a love for the outdoors, and recently Andy guided Marylinn and I to Idaho's
tallest peak, Mt. Borah. On Sunday nights our home is open to interactive
Bible study where I play guitar, lead songs of worship, and teach/facilitate
discussion, currently on First Corinthians. |
| I have been a member of ISRC since I was a student, and
would like to serve any way I can, if found in favor by God and the ISRC
voting members. |
| Ramona Sailor – Delegate |
| I am a native Idahoan, born and raised in the Magic Valley.
I obtained my Associate Degree in Respiratory Therapy in 1978 at Boise
State University. I began work at the then Magic Valley Memorial Hospital
in 1979 in Twin Falls. I took several years off after having my daughters.
During the longest stretch I worked for Idaho Home Health and Hospice as
their home care Respiratory Therapist. I missed the acute care setting
and returned to Magic Valley Regional Medical Center in 1991. We are now
part of the St. Luke's Health Care system. |
| Despite all the years of working, I still enjoy learning
and keeping up with all the changes that healthcare has experienced and
will continue to experience. I keep busy outside of work with church, family,
gardening and sewing. |
| David Southwick - Delegate |
| I graduated from the RT program at Boise State in 2005
and became a credentialed RRT in 2005. I have worked for St. Alphonsus
RMC since March 2004. My prior work history: I worked in the grocery
industry for 14 years. I was manager of a natural foods company for 10
years in Utah and California, managing a staff of 85. |
| I currently live in Eagle with my wife, mother-in-law
and two daughters, 12 and 7. I operate a small farm in Eagle with two cows
and a small flock of chickens. I have truly enjoyed the career change and
find Respiratory Care to be fulfilling and enjoyable on many levels. I
look forward to the positive changes that Respiratory Care is going to
experience not only in Idaho, but also in the industry as a whole in the
coming years. |
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Disaster
Team Volunteers
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Lande
Lambert, Disaster Guy
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| In doing some more disaster preparedness research for
ISRC, I have come to the conclusion that Idaho RT’s do not volunteer. In
a conversation with Idaho Department of Homeland Security/Idaho Department
of Health and Welfare it seems that RT’s are not in the loop. This is disconcerting
considering when the Department of Health and Human Services were compiling
a list of volunteers they asked for RT’s first. Then I read that of the
200 RT’s that HHS was trying to get, they only got 50. |
| HHS is trying to get volunteers for three areas of the
U.S.—East, West and Central. Yet, they still have not achieved what they
consider the minimum number of volunteer RT’s that they may need. We need
to step up, or we will be considered a “non-essential” part of the healthcare
team. |
| There are two things the ISRC needs from the Idaho RT’s:
first. submit your name to be on the list kept by the President of the
ISRC; and second, contact me and let me know if your facility does
disaster training and what role the RT’s play in this. Disaster training
has been done in facilities without the RT department participation—this
is unacceptable. |
| If you have already signed up for HHS or another disaster
program please let me know this also. |
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High
Desert Pulmonary Conference
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|
Tom
Gable
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| It was my pleasure to attend the
Lung Association’s Sixth Annual High Desert Conference in June. The meeting
was held at St. Luke’s Boise Anderson Center and was well attended by RCPs
and RNs. The educational program was themed this year and focused on lung
cancer: description, diagnosis, complications, treatment of respiratory
involvement, and allied subjects like palliative nursing care and tobacco
cessation programs. |
| The program was masterfully guided
by Tom Foster from West Valley Medical Center in Caldwell. The highlight
presentation, for me, was a discussion of ventilator techniques in critical
care, particularly noninvasive positive pressure ventilation, by Robert
Kacmarek from Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard University. Dr
Kacmarek is a giant in our field and an outstanding lecturer. Dr Saadia
Akhtar, a pulmonologist with Idaho Pulmonary Associates in Boise, presented
an appreciated overview of lung cancer manifestations and complications
encountered by respiratory therapists and nurses in the critical care units.
Gaylene Moody-Lee is a respiratory care educator and specializes in tobacco
cessation programs. She gave a very good description of the causes of tobacco
dependency and basics of implementing cessation programs. |
| The Conference Planning Committee
is soliciting suggestions for specific content for the Seventh Annual High
Desert Pulmonary Conference in June 2008. They would like ISRC members
to submit the topic they would most like to hear. Direct your reply to
Conrad Colby at ccolby@boisestate.edu. |
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Photo
Gallery
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Photos
by Tom Gable
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Vice President TJ Wing and
President elect Brandi Johnson
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Board Member Dana Hegestad says:
(see below)
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President Michele Andrew
and McCall Meeting Host Michelle Butler
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“My wife Sally and I climbed
Mt. Borah for our 15th wedding anniversary in July. Instead of crystal
we got each other ice axes. We got some true "Mountain Air." We summited
Mt. Hood and Mt. Rainier in 2005
and I felt Mt. Borah was every
bit as challenging.”
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Board Retreat at Beside the Mill, McCall
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Newsletter Editor Tom Gable
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In Pursuit of Lake Trout, Payette Lake
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AARC
International Fellow
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Dave
Shuldes
| The AARC has once again awarded Boise with an International
Fellowship visit in 2007. Dave Shuldes from St. Luke’s will be serving
as City Host. Our visitor will be Fiona Ng from Hong Kong. She will be
traveling to Kailua, Hawaii on Sunday, November 18, 2007, and then will
travel to Boise for the second city visit on Saturday, November 24. On
Friday, November 30 she will travel to Orlando, Florida for the AARC's
53rd International Respiratory Congress, December 1-4, 2007. |
| Fiona holds a B.S. in Nursing and a Master of Nursing
in Advanced Practice. She has been a nurse since 1993 and developed a special
interest in Respiratory Nursing. She has implemented adult asthma education
programs, is a successful smoking cessation counselor, and has met with
the press in Hong Kong to disseminate an anti-smoking message. Fiona has
worked as a nurse specialist providing advice and assistance to pulmonologists
at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Hong Kong. She currently works in the Continuous
Quality Improvement Unit in that hospital. |
| Fiona recently wrote, “It's my great honor to meet you
in this coming November. All of you are very helpful, encouraging and supportive
for me. Heartfelt thanks for your generous support and valuable assistance.
I'm very eager for an opportunity to meet all dedicated respiratory care
professionals and exchange information pertinent to health care in our
two countries. Apart from the observations of the respiratory care practices
in hospitals, home care settings and educational institutions, I'd like
to visit quality and risk management unit in the United States. For improving
the quality of care, it's appreciated that you could introduce the quality
indicators for respiratory care and tell me how to measure the quality
of respiratory care in your hospital.” |
| We look forward to greeting Fiona in Boise on November
24th! |
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Picture 1
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Picture 2
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You never know what will come from the International
Fellowship visits we’ve been having annually in Idaho for several years.
Dave Shuldes recently had a great experience related to our 2006 visitor,
Lucia He from Chengdu. Dave’s 20-year-old daughter, Kelsea Shuldes, had
an opportunity to visit Lucia in China this summer. Kelsea is studying
Chinese and spent 10 days in Chengdu with Lucia, staying in her home and
touring a good share of Szechuan province with Lucia and others. Kelsea
got a chance to know the students from Lucia's RT class (currently the
only RT program in China). Kelsea wrote, “At night, I hung out with Lucia
and some of her students from the RT program. The students organized a
dumpling party for me. We probably made 300 dumplings, and were only able
to eat about half. I was assured that the guys in the dorm would probably
eat them within a day. I got to practice a little bit of Chinese and the
students got to practice a lot of English. It was fun.” Dave and
Kelsea are grateful to the AARC International Fellowship program and to
those who have committed their time and efforts in Idaho to help make this
program a good experience for the visitors. To Nola Darling, thanks especially
for taking the lead in 2006! Note: Click on a picture for larger
view.
Picture 1: Kelsea Shuldes with the RT class in Chengdu,
Szechuan Province, China
Picture 2: Kelsea Shuldes with Pandas near Chengdu |
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Hemoglobin
and DLCO’s
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Lande
Lambert
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| As a therapist working in a PFT lab, I am trying to accumulate
some data on how different labs in the state do their PFT’s and what different
types of studies these labs offer. I have talked with a few labs about
the different methods on how the hemoglobin is being entered into the test
calculations. Some labs draw ABG’s, some draw venous samples, and some
let the computer calculate the DLCO based on “normals.” |
| We are all aware of the importance of hemoglobin in assessing
the diffusion; but not all labs are getting this correction into their
testing. The facility I work for uses a device called Hemocue; it’s a handheld
device that does a hemoglobin report from a finger stick sample. It’s very
accurate, fast, economical and considerably less painful. I would appreciate
any feed back I can get from the PFT labs here in Idaho that do diffusion
studies on how they obtain their hemoglobin for their studies or if they
let the machine calculate in normals as a guideline. Also, I’m trying to
compile how may labs do quality control testing on their equipment that
do diffusion studies. |
| Please contact me at landel@mvrmc.org
or
call me at 208-737-2686. The (anonymous) data compiled from this will be
provided to Tom Gable for his newsletter. |
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May
BOD Meeting Minutes
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May
4, 2007
McCall
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| Members present: TJ Wing,
Carla Edmison, Brandi Johnson, Michele Andrew, Ramona Sailor, Michelle
Butler, Rob Devinaspre, Mary Kimbrel, Tom Gable. |
| Michele called the meeting to order. |
| Last meeting minutes were read and approved. |
| Treasurer's Report: Michele
presented the 2nd quarter financial report from January-March 2007. |
| Committee Reports: |
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Delegates Report: Carla is taking
suggestions for recruiting memberships. She has been sending out reminder
renewal letters with AARC information to ISRC members who are close to
renewal or past due.
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Membership: Discussed possibly
purchasing membership vouchers through the AARC and offering them at a
discount to recruit new members. Carla will look into this.
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Newsletter: Tom just sent one
out. Look for the next one around 2 months from now.
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| Old Business: |
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Scholarship at BSU: Shirley Thimsen's
family helped endow a scholarship in her honor. Her family donated money
and recently gave away a scholarship at a BSU ceremony. The board discussed
having the scholarship be in Shirley Thimsen's name only so TJ will write
up a motion to remove ISRC name from the scholarship and it will be further
discussed at next board meeting.
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President's Meeting: Michele reported
on what she learned and this is further discussed under new business. Michele
discussed a ventilator 5K race to help raise money for the PACT committee.
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Public Board member: Tom checked into
the bigger state societies and none of them have a public board member
not associated with respiratory care who sits on the board. So no new changes
to our board currently.
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IDPA: Discussed more details
regarding this association and the ISRC board discussed pros and cons of
being on the list. No interest at this time.
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| New Business: |
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RRT Prep Course through AARC: This
is a free service of the AARC it is on the ISRC Website. It is a great
tool that can be utilized by anyone who is studying for the exam.
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AARC email: If you need to send
out a statewide email contacting all the respiratory therapist's of ID,
contact Pat Lee (from AARC) and she can generate a mass mailing for you.
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NHLBI Initiative for COPD: Michele
discussed information regarding RT initiative. Educate your patients on
COPD. For even more information check out the interview with Ted Koppel's
wife on the Good Morning America website.
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High School CPR program: Michele passed
on to Jeff (from BSU) CD projects promoting the Respiratory Therapy profession.
TJ discussed what BSU does to recruit students. Lots of public relations
needed in high schools and colleges to promote our profession.
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New Officers for 2008? What positions
are open: President-Elect, Treasurer, Delegate and Director at Large.
Please contact the nominating committee Ramona Sailor or Carmen Griggs
if you have nominations. Please submit before July 2007.
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Elections: Dana Hagestad will send
out and tally the votes.
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Summer Forum: Our delegates will attend.
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| Next Meeting to be held in Pocatello, ID at the State
Conference September 13-14, 2007. |
| Meeting adjourned. |
| Respectfully submitted,
Mary Kimbrel, RRT, AE-C
Past ISRC Secretary |
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ISRC
Board Meeting
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TBA
September
13-14, 2007
Annual
ISRC Conference
Pocatello
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Contact
Michele Andrew for more information at MICHANDR@sarmc.org
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Need Respiratory Care Professionals?
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ISRC
Web Site
www.idasrc.org
Education
- Resources - Employment
- Meetings/Events - Scholarships
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2007
ISRC Board of Directors
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Michele Andrew (Boise), President
Brandi Johnson (Boise),
President elect
Chad Rye (Lewiston), Past
President
T. J. Wing (Boise), Vice
President
Elena Ilyusha (Boise), Secretary
Carrie Massey (Idaho Falls),
Treasurer |
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Carla Edmison (Lewiston), Delegate
Kelly Dwello (Boise), Delegate
Dana Hagestad (Lewiston), Director
at Large
Greg Pilcher (Lewiston), Director
at Large
Dr. Nirmal Charan (Boise), Medical
Director
Rebecca Brollier (Boise), Student
Representative |
Visit http://www.idasrc.org/contact_us.htm
to contact a Board Member.
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The Mountain Air newsletter
editor is Tom Gable. If you would like to contribute information/articles,
please contact Tom by e-mail:
gablet@slrmc.org,
or fax (208) 381-3498.
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