International Fellowship Award
Program
Summary Reports
This educational and professional trip to the United States of America
thankfully sponsored by the The American Association for respiratory
care and the Respiratory Care Foundation has allowed me to grow not
just professionally and academically but also as a human being. It was
a time of thanksgiving and I think that not enough of us, foreigners
are thankful enough for what the United States has given us and continues
to give us.
Academically and professionally, my 2 host cities planned and executed
an amazing and varied program of activities. My first stop was in Louisville,
picked up by Kathleen Sheely, a lady excited about her profession and
willing to share much more than exposing me to professional practice
in respiratory care. I then started in Lexington with Dan Perine and
his staff hosting me at the Baptist Central Hospital. I was given an
overview of how respiratory therapy functions in that setting and was
shown everything from emergency room to intensive care therapy. I was
impressed with the amount of respect that health care professionals
have for each other and the team spirit. I visited a sleep laboratory
and a home care company. I managed to visit an old friend at the University
of Kentucky and visit their teaching and research laboratories. Visits
to Kosair Children’s hospital and university of Kentucky medical
center and the University opened up exciting avenues for my mind and
experience. I also managed to experience American family hospitality
and the “lighting up” of Louisville and Charlottesville.
Charlottesville with Dan Rowley and his team was equally exciting.
I learned about Thomas Jefferson’s visions and saw it in the planning
of his house and the University. I visited all critical care, physical
therapy, pulmonary function laboratories, cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation,
cystic fibrosis care, the sleep laboratory and 2 teaching facilities.
The warmth with which I was received is admirable. Everybody that I
encountered was willing to show me something but it was all done in
a spirit of fellowship. The trip ended with the conference in New Orleans
where I had the pleasure of meeting many of the other individuals who
allowed this trip to materialize. I also had the opportunity to sample
research done in this field. Many people took time to make us feel especially
important, Vijay Despande, Jim McGuire, Jill Nelson and so many others
that I thank God for all of you.
In summary, the standard of respiratory care is admirable. The team
spirit is enviable. The spirit of giving and sharing is amazing. The
enthusiasm to promote the profession and help mankind live clean and
health lives is so visible and infectious. My exposure has strengthened
my resolve to carry respiratory care further in South Africa. I have
seen your resolve and learned about the strategies that you use to take
the profession forward. I am as excited about respiratory care as you
are. I have confirmed that you are a warm and caring “people”.
You hosted us in the best hotels. You checked on us to see if we are
comfortable and gave us something that money cannot buy. I have picked
up several ideas and made contacts that I need to follow through with.
I also respect the humility of the most distinguished people within
this profession and organization. I congratulate you on your choice
of keynote speaker at the opening of the conference. I carried this
information home to my family, friends and colleagues. A videotape of
this presentation is likely to be an inspiration to all.
Thank you very much. I hope to maintain ties with this organization
and attend as many conferences as possible in the future. I will look
into the possibility of inviting one or more of you to South Africa.
Lina Puckree. Ph.D. PT
Associate Professor: Physiotherapy
Head of School: Physiotherapy, Sports Science and Optometry.
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