For Jenny Hsieh, BSRT, RRT, it all started with a cab ride down Michigan Avenue in Chicago, IL, on Dec. 18.

Last fall, AARC announced its pledge to improve patient safety when it joined the Partnership for Patients initiative sponsored by the Department of Health and Human Services/Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (link to article dated October 19, 2011). The goals of the Partnership program are to reduce hospital-acquired conditions and hospital readmissions caused by preventable complications during transition from one care setting to another.

The AARC Board of Directors has issued a call for candidates for the Executive Director position of the AARC. Sam Giordano, Executive Director for more than 30 years, announced his retirement effective June 1. The AARC Board will be conducting a search for his replacement in the coming months.

Dr. A. Wallace Conerly, vice chancellor emeritus for health affairs at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and dean emeritus of the School of Medicine, died earlier this month in the UMMC hospital that bears his name. He was 76.

The AARC maintains a list of links to other groups and organizations on its website, and we’ve just added one more to the collection.

Check our our latest list of newsmakers.

AARC’s partner in many COPD awareness initiatives, the COPD Foundation, has announced the appointment of Dave Barringer, former senior vice president of Member Relations for Goodwill Industries International, as COPDF’s new executive director effective January 1, 2012.

AARConnect, the social network that connects you member to member, now has an app that allows you to read and respond directly to discussions right from your phone.

This year, each Specialty Section will have a bonus webcast opportunity, meaning that the live webcast and the archived webcast and test will be offered free of charge to members of that section.

We’re starting the new year off with lots of great stories.

Photos from Dr. Fred Helmholz’ 100th birthday on Dec. 27, 2011.

The AARC was just contacted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asking for assistance in communicating to respiratory therapists about the imminent phase out of over-the-counter Primatene Mist.

We have another great list of newsmakers to share.

Given the importance of allied health, particularly in light of health care reform, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) held a workshop May 9–10, 2011, to examine the current allied health care workforce and consider how it can contribute to improving health care access, quality, and effectiveness.

Check out our latest list of newsmakers.

We have a long list of newsmakers to share in this edition.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has opened up the application process for its 2012 National Environmental Leadership Award in Asthma Management.

AARC has added to its international offerings with the recent translation of A Guide to Aerosol Delivery Devices for Respiratory Therapists.

Last year, the AARC published A Patient’s Guide to Aerosol Drug Delivery to provide patients and families with step-by-step guidance on how to take their medications and care for their devices.

As we celebrate COPD Awareness Month and World COPD Day on Nov. 16, the AARC asks you to think about the successes we’ve all shared in this year.