The American Respiratory Care Foundation and the National Board for Respiratory Care awards up to $5,000 in memory of Gareth B. Gish, MS, RRT to a respiratory therapist pursuing postgraduate education leading to an advanced degree. The award consists of a certificate of recognition, coach airfare, one night’s lodging, and registration for AARC Congress. May also include a cash award up to $5,000.
The Gareth B. Gish award was established in 1999 in memory of Mr. Gish, who was a true pioneer of the profession. Mr. Gish made enormous contributions to our understanding of the science of respiratory care and mentored literally thousands of therapists throughout his career.
- Completed application form.
- Must be a respiratory therapist who has at least a Baccalaureate degree with a 3.0 cumulative GPA or better on a 4.0 scale, or the equivalent. If no Baccalaureate degree, then a letter of matriculation from a graduate program and an undergraduate transcript will suffice.
- Must provide official transcript verifying a GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale, or the equivalent.
- Must provide proof of acceptance into an advanced degree program of a fully accredited school and proof applicant is a candidate for a degree and a letter from the program chair or committee chair indication applicant is a candidate for a degree.
- Must provide letters of recommendation from the program director or other senior faculty member and from the medical director or other physician instructor attesting to: a) approval of candidate’s paper, b) candidate’s worthiness for the award, and c) candidate’s potential for a career in the profession of respiratory care.
- Must submit an essay consisting of at least 1,200 words describing how the award will assist the applicant in reaching his/her goal of an advanced degree and the candidate’s statement of how achievement of this advanced degree will advance the profession of respiratory care.
As long as the minimum criteria are met, repeat awards may be considered by the ARCF Board of Trustees.
Please note that the application deadline is June 1.
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Paper Submission Guidelines
Points to Consider in Submitting an Essay
In addition to submitting some basic personal information, you will also be required to:
- Attach an original referenced paper on some aspect of respiratory care to the online form if applying for an undergraduate award. The paper should include a cover page giving only the title of the paper, and should be devoid of any information such as applicant’s name, address, or school that could provide a bias in the evaluation. See Paper Submission Guidelines
- Attach a personal essay of at least 1,200 words describing how this award will assist the applicant in reaching the objective of a degree and the candidate’s ultimate goals of leadership in health care if applying for the William W. Burgin/Robert Lawrence award. The paper should include a cover page with the author’s name, address, and phone number. The body of the paper should be devoid of any information such as applicant’s name, address, or school that could provide a bias in the evaluation. See Points to Consider in Submitting an Essay
Applications are accepted Jan. 1–June 1. Applications will not be considered unless all supporting documents have been sent.
Previous undergraduate award recipients are eligible to reapply. Previous postgraduate award recipients may apply for, and receive, an award a second and third year if the applicant is maintaining good standing in an advanced degree program and is the most deserving candidate in the judgment of the Board of Trustees or its designated selection committee.
Past Award Recipients
- 2023—David L. Kemper, BHS, RRT, RRT-NPS, C-NPT
- 2022—Nkiruka Mary Achionye, BS, RRT, RRT-NPS
- 2021—Amanda L. Roby, MHHS, RRT, RRT-SDS, RPSGT, RST, CCSH
- 2020—Sherry M. Whiteman, MS, RRT
- 2019—Marby R. McKinney, Med, RRT, RRT-NPS, AE-C
- 2018—Kevin P. Collins, MS, RRT, RPFT, AE-C
- 2017—Marby McKinney, MEd, RRT-NPS, CPFT, AE-C
- 2016—Tabatha M. Dragonberry, MEd, RRT-NPS, AE-C, ACCS, CPFT, C-NPT
- 2015—Kevin Collins, MS, RRT, RPFT, AE-C
- 2014—Sherry Whiteman, BS, RRT
- 2013—Charity Clark, BS, RRT
- 2012—Matthew Trojanowski, BA, RRT
- 2011—Daniel D. Rowley
- 2010—Cynthia White, BA, RRT-NPS, AE-C
- 2009—Ashley F. Dulle, BS, RRT, AE-C
- 2008—Rena Barker, BS, RRT, AE-C
- 2007—John Salazar, BS, RRT
- 2006—Christy Kane, Med, RRT-NPS
- 2005—Mary Ann Couture, MEd, RRT-NPS
- 2004—Linda Birnbaum, MS, RRT
- 2003—Linda Birnbaum, MS, RRT
- 2002—Linda Stone, RRT, CPFT
- 2001—Mary Jane Johnson, RRT
- 2000—Arzu Ari, MS, CRT, CPFT
- 1999—Margaret A. Swanson, MS, RRT
