Robert Johnson, senior director of Respiratory Services at UAB Medicine, has been inducted into the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) Fellowship Program. This national honor recognizes Johnson for his contributions to the science of respiratory care and for exemplifying the highest standards in the field.
Established in 1998, the AARC Fellowship Program brings recognition to AARC members who have reached a level of distinction in their professional practice. Inductees have demonstrated exceptional achievement in respiratory care through advanced education and credentials, research initiatives, publications, and clinical initiatives. Johnson has the additional distinction of being the only AARC fellow in Alabama who is not retired.
Achievements and leadership
AARC fellows are nominated by at least two AARC members, one being a fellow of the AARC. Inductees have shown prominent national leadership, influence, and achievement in clinical practice, education, or science. They also demonstrate significant contributions to the Respiratory Care profession and to the AARC.
Johnson’s UAB Medicine colleagues say that he has met those criteria and more. Nicole Walker, director of Respiratory Services, has witnessed Johnson’s leadership.
“He has been instrumental in the practice and advancement of UAB Respiratory Services as a whole,” Walker said. “Robert has worked in transport, in the RNICU, and at the main hospital, and he has helped build our services into what they are today. He’s also, without question, a national leader in our field, being a resource and guide for RTs everywhere. Florida will call, Vanderbilt will call; they will ask Robert, ‘What do we do in this scenario?’, and he will have the answer.”
Megan Crumpton, manager of Respiratory Services, says Johnson is known for his innovation and practical understanding of devices and procedures.
“Robert is almost like a respiratory engineer,” Crumpton said. “He has a solution for everything, and he’s been a mentor to so many of us in sharing that practical knowledge. He’s currently president of the Alabama Society for Respiratory Care. He has taught in respiratory schools and serves on advisory boards for many of them. He’s really shaped the respiratory profession in our state. If you say his name to RTs in Alabama, they know who you are talking about.”
Congratulations to Robert for earning a spot in this prestigious fellowship program.