Dräger has awarded two grants that will provide research and leadership opportunities for RTs and support the company’s ongoing commitment to the advancement of respiratory care.

The Dräger Literary Award

The first grant, a $50,000 endowment to the American Respiratory Care Foundation (ARCF), will establish the Dräger Literary Award. The award will encourage research by respiratory therapists by recognizing the best paper focused on mechanical ventilation published in the science journal Respiratory Care.

The Dräger Literary Award will be presented by the ARCF annually at the AARC’s International Respiratory Congress. It consists of a certificate of recognition, registration to the AARC Congress, airfare to the Congress, and one night’s lodging, according to Dräger.

All papers published in the journal are judged automatically — no application is required.  Selection for awards is based on the decision of the Editorial Board of the journal, according to the company.

“Innovation and new clinical practice in mechanical ventilation require research and evidence-based outcomes,” said Ed Coombs, MA, RRT-NPS, ACCS, FAARC, Director of Marketing-Intensive Care, Draeger Medical, Inc. “Establishing an annual award for the best paper that examines mechanical ventilation encourages both new and veteran RTs to continue scholarly work both on the bench and at the bedside.”

AARC Leadership Institute

In addition, Dräger has provided an unrestricted grant to the American Association of Respiratory Care (AARC) to help develop its new Leadership Institute, which was established as a quality continuing education program for respiratory care practitioners.

The AARC Leadership Institute offers three educational tracks — research, education and management — and awards three scholarships in each track. The tracks have been developed by nationally respected leaders in the field of respiratory care, who will also provide mentoring to participants, according to Dräger.

“We are very pleased to receive such generous support from Dräger, a forward-thinking company that understands the requirements for new and currently practicing RTs to thrive in the healthcare arena today,” says Tom Kallstrom, MBA, RRT, FAARC, CEO, AARC. “This unique program can ensure that tomorrow’s leaders are well equipped for the challenges that lie ahead for all of us. By supporting the AARC and ARCF, Dräger is investing in the future of respiratory care.”