May 6 marked the first ever Student Professional Development Day at BMCC. This was a joint NYSSRC / New York Downstate Association Respiratory Therapy (NYDART) event in which NYS RT students were invited to attend a one-day seminar focused on professional development and included a ventilator workshop run by highly respected local practitioners.

August 2016 the Stony Brook University accepted its first class of Bachelors of Science students to its Polysomnographic Technology Program. This school is also in the process of developing an Advanced Practice Respiratory Care Master’s Program.

BOD member Stephen G. Smith was appointed to two Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) projects. This is a major federally funded statewide initiative aimed at reducing avoidable hospital and emergency use by 25% over the next 5 years. NYSSRC encourages RTs across the state to seek involvement in these projects. If you are participating in any of these please let us know. Also, belated congratulations to Steve on being named the 2015 NYDART Therapist of the Year.

On October 27, the BOD meeting in Long Island marked the first BOD meeting in this area in several years. It was a well-attended meeting including several guests from NYDART leadership. We look forward to working collaboratively with this organization in the future to further our goals in this geographic area.

March 24, 2017 the NYDART Spring Symposium scheduled at Kingsborough Community College.