About Us
Meet Dan Van Hise - President / Membership
Dan has been very active in the Respiratory Therapy Community since 1983, graduating from Northeastern University’s Respiratory Therapy Program. Dan began his career as a Critical Care Therapist at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston and has worked as a clinician or Respiratory Manager in many hospitals around the USA, including the Elliot Hospital, Emerson Hospital, University of Colorado Medical Center, Vencor Denver, and Rady Children's Hospital.
Over the last 30 years, Dan has worked in the Medical Device world bringing new ventilator technologies to serve my fellow clinicians in global hospitals. I was responsible for multiple product designs and launches in the USA, beginning with the Siemens SV 300A and Servo-i, PB840 Ventilator, Vyaire (VIASYS) ReVel Ventilator, Philips V60 Ventilator, Philips Trilogy 202, and most recently the Vapotherm HVT 2.0. Currently, I am the Global Vice-President of Marketing for Vapotherm, Inc. While working in the Medical Device Industry, I have continued to work clinically at the bedside as much as possible and I have served on the AARC International Committee for many years.
Dan lives on the NH Seacoast with his wife and 7 children (most have left the nest) and proudly supports the US Coast Guard Auxiliary as an active pilot, NH Admissions Coordinator for the US Coast Guard Academy, and the District Staff Officer for Public Affairs in Northern New England.
Meet Jessie Damm - Immediate Past President
Jessie has been involved with the AARC since she moved to New Hampshire in 2014. Jessie has worked primarily in inpatient tertiary care in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. She currently works as a Clinical Specialist for GlideScope. Jessie plans to focus on expanding relevant continuing education opportunities, operational organization and increasing the profile of Respiratory Therapists in the community we serve. Jessie lives in Nashua and is a proud dog mom to her rescue pup.
Meet Kerry McNiven - Treasurer
Kerry has been involved with the AARC for 45 years. She recently retired from her Professor, Director of Clinical Education position in Manchester, CT, and moved to NH. She has served in many capacities at both the national and local level. She recently completed her term as an AARC Director at Large. She was Secretary in the House of Delegates and has served as delegate, secretary, and director at large in her former state. Kerry feels the profession of Respiratory Care has been very good to her, and although she has retired from her job, she has not retired from her profession. Although she is not well known in VT/NH, she wishes to continue to serve the profession and its members. She lives in Madison with her husband and her slender-billed conure Libby.
Chris Chambers - House of Delegates
Chris has been a registered respiratory therapist for 30 years. He is currently the supervisor of respiratory therapy at The University of Vermont Medical Center. He has worked in all aspects of care, including Adult ICU, NICU, PICU, E.D. and transports. He is currently an NRP instructor. Since 2008, he has been a clinical expert and faculty member of the Vermont Oxford Network’s Neonatal Quality improvement collaborative, NICQ. He is a content team member for the National Credentialing Corporation’s ELBW Care of the Extremely Low Birth Weight Neonate certification exam. He is currently a Vermont State Licensure Board of Advisors member and an active AARC member. His goals as a house delegate is to help promote the Respiratory Care profession through recognition,
reimbursement, recruitment, and retention.
Tracy McGuiness- Board Member at Large / Education Committee Chair
Tracy has been an RT for 39 years. Currently, she is the Program Director at Vermont Technical College’s Respiratory Therapy program. Prior to that, she was with UVMMC in various roles. Tracy’s goals this year include promoting Respiratory Care as a career. Tracy is married
with three adult children, loves to cross-country ski, bicycle, and visit friends & family.
Emily Parent, Political Action Contact Team (PACT), Vermont.
Emily Parent has been in the Respiratory Care field since 2009, at the University of Vermont Medical Center. While clinically working with patients, she cared for those across the spectrum of geriatrics through neonates and was a member of the Neonatal Transport Team. She spent 8 years as the Adult Educator in Respiratory Care – providing education to her own RT and Nursing colleagues as well as Resident and Attending Physicians. More recently she has transitioned to the role of Supervisor in Respiratory Care. She is a strong advocate for Respiratory Therapists to function at the highest level of their training and clinical capacity within hospital and outpatient settings. Emily is excited to champion for the RT profession in Washington DC, as part of the Political Action Contact Team.
Emily Burnett, MS, RRT, RRT-NPS , Secretary, Board Member
Emily Burnett is a seasoned respiratory therapist, clinical coordinator and educator with a Master of Science in Applied Health Physiology and a forthcoming Doctorate in Medical Science in Healthcare Leadership. With extensive experience in neonatal transport, respiratory care education, and clinical coordination at top medical facilities, Emily has demonstrated a profound commitment to advancing respiratory care standards and education.
She is recognized for her expertise in complex neonatal cases and has been honored as the AARC’s Surface and Air Transport Specialty Respiratory Practitioner of the Year in 2021. Emily holds an adjunct educator position at Colby-Sawyer College, developed and teaches a course in the online bachelor’s completion program in Respiratory Therapy. Emily is an active member of professional societies and holds numerous certifications, including NPS, Pulmonary Disease Educator, and ACLS instructor. Her dedication to the field is matched by her passion for teaching and mentoring the next generation of healthcare professionals.