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Who We Are

Healthcare professionals collaborating

The Maryland/District of Columbia Society for Respiratory Care is a chartered affiliate of the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC). We are a nonprofit professional organization run entirely by volunteers — practicing respiratory therapists, educators, and managers who believe in strengthening the profession from within.

Our 13-member Board of Directors, elected by the membership, works to support RT practitioners through educational opportunities, legislative monitoring, continuing education programs, and professional networking across the region.

The Society is organized into five geographic chapters — Eastern, Central/Western, City (Baltimore), Capitol/Southern, and Northern — each represented on the Board. This chapter structure helps us stay connected to the real-world concerns of respiratory care professionals throughout Maryland and DC.

2025 Board of Directors

The people behind the Society — dedicated professionals serving the respiratory care community.

LN
President
Lenny Nyangwara
DBA, RRT, FAARC
Director, Pulmonary & Neurodiagnostics — Anne Arundel Medical Center
Term expires 12/2027
Tom Striplin
Treasurer
Tom Striplin
Ed.D., RRT, RPFT
President — Eastern WV Community & Technical College
Term expires 12/2025
Kecia McGuire
Secretary
Kecia McGuire
MBA, RRT-ACCS, RRT-NPS, CPFT
Respiratory Therapist III — UM Capital Region
Term expires 12/2026
FG
Delegate
Fassil Getachew
MBA, RRT, FAARC
Director Respiratory Care — MedStar Georgetown
Term expires 12/2028
KS
Delegate
Kimberly Smith
BS, RRT, NPS
Johns Hopkins Hospital — Baltimore, MD
Kasmith33@icloud.com
410-212-9629
Term expires 12/2027
Karoline Hoffman
Director
Karoline Hoffman
BS, RRT-ACCS, RRT-NPS
Vapotherm Account Manager — MD/DC Region
Jo Ann Mills
Eastern Chapter Representative
Jo Ann Mills
BA, RRT
University of Maryland — Shore Regional Health
Rob McGrain
City Chapter Representative
Rob McGrain
BA, RRT
Northwest Hospital
Virginia Forster
Northern Chapter Representative
Virginia Forster
MS, RRT
CCBC
vforster@ccbcmd.edu
443-840-1798
Leslie Kingslow
Medical Advisor
Leslie Kingslow
M.D.
?
Central/Western Chapter Representative
Vacant
?
Capitol/Southern Chapter Representative
Vacant

2025 Committees

Our committees drive the Society's work across education, legislation, membership, and public outreach.

Chair: Michelle Gianotti-Gredlein, BS, RRT

Coordinates educational programming, CEU opportunities, and the RCEC Site Authorization Program for respiratory care professionals across Maryland and DC.

Members: All Chapter Representatives

Manages the nomination and election process for Board of Directors positions, ensuring fair representation from all geographic chapters.

Members: Tom Striplin, Lenny Nyangwara

Monitors and responds to legislative issues affecting respiratory care in Maryland and the District of Columbia. Works with retained lobbyist Schwartz, Metz & Wise, P.A. and coordinates AARC PACT involvement.

Chair: TBA

Members: All Chapter Representatives

Focuses on growing and engaging the Society’s membership, welcoming new professionals, and ensuring member voices are heard at the board level.

Members: Ed Palmer, Jen McGrain (Co-Chairs)

Plans and organizes the Society’s signature annual conference — an educational and networking event for respiratory care professionals in the MD/DC region.

Chair: Carolyn Williams

Members: Kim Smith

Coordinates the Society’s participation in the AARC Political Advocacy Contact Team — attending the annual gathering in Washington, DC to lobby Congressional representatives on healthcare and respiratory care issues.

Reviews and recommends updates to the Society’s governing documents. The current bylaws were last revised in 2007.

Board Documents

The Society's bylaws outline our governance structure, membership categories, officer roles, election procedures, and more. The current version was last revised in 2007.

Download Bylaws (PDF)

2025 Board meeting dates: TBA — check back for updates or contact board@mddcsoc.org.

Want to Get Involved?

Join the Society's online community to connect with fellow respiratory care professionals, discuss best practices, and stay informed about the profession.