Richard A. Sanchez, Ph.D. Ed RRT
Lancaster,PA
Summary
Doctorate-prepared respiratory care leader, educator, and Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) with nearly 30 years of progressive clinical, operational, and instructional experience across acute care, critical care, Veterans Administration healthcare, and postsecondary health professions education. Combines doctoral preparation in education with a Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning with Technology and a Bachelor of Arts in Health Care Management, applying graduate-level teaching expertise to curriculum design, clinical education, learner assessment, and technology-enhanced instruction while leveraging healthcare management preparation in service-line leadership, staff supervision, quality improvement, compliance support, resource coordination, and clinical operations. Recognized for translating complex clinical concepts into learner-centered instruction, mentoring interdisciplinary teams, supporting quality improvement, and advancing professional development in high-reliability healthcare environments.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Chief Respiratory Therapist
Miami VA Hospital
Miami, FL
10.2016 - 08.2025
- Directed daily respiratory care operations while maintaining strong clinical oversight of critical care ventilation, weaning support, and airway management practices.
- Supervised and supported a team of 42 respiratory care staff; led staff development, competency support, and team-based collaboration aligned with patient safety and clinical best practices.
- Applied health care management preparation to lead respiratory service operations, including staffing oversight, budget support, equipment/resource planning, quality-focused decision-making, and administrative coordination for a large interdisciplinary clinical service.
- Developed and reviewed respiratory care policies, procedures, and clinical protocols while supporting regulatory readiness, standardized practice, patient safety, and evidence-based care delivery.
- Conducted performance appraisals, provided coaching and corrective feedback, supported professional development planning, and addressed staff performance in alignment with organizational expectations, competency standards, and service goals.
- Served as OORAM (Airway Management) lead, supporting emergency airway readiness, equipment standardization, and interdisciplinary response processes; designated COR as assigned for respiratory-related procurements.
- Led staff education and competency development using structured clinical training, instructional technology principles, and technology-enabled learning tools.
- Supported advanced respiratory therapies and bedside diagnostics, including high-flow systems (AIRVo), aerosol delivery (Aerogen), and evaluations for neuromuscular disease patients.
Registered Respiratory Therapist / Morale Committee
Clarksburg, VA Hospital
Clarksburg, WV
09.2015 - 09.2016
- Provided expert bedside care, including emergency intubation and end-tidal CO2 monitoring.
- Conducted specialized evaluations, including 6-minute walk tests and overnight oximetry.
- Maintained dual roles in clinical excellence and staff engagement via the Moral Committee.
Respiratory Supervisor
Black Hills Health Care System (VA)
Hot Springs, SD
08.2013 - 08.2015
- Supervised respiratory staff across Hot Springs and Fort Meade VA Hospitals.
- Authored a successful proposal to update the BHHCS Sleep Lab.
- Managed administrative duties including ADPAC, time/attendance validation, and equipment procurement (2237).
- Supported multi-site respiratory supervision, administrative workflows, time and attendance validation, equipment procurement, and service improvement planning.
Clinical & Didactic Instructor
ATI College of Health
Miami, FL
09.2007 - 12.2012
- Delivered classroom-based respiratory care instruction in a postsecondary health professions setting, using lectures, case discussions, active learning strategies, and real-world clinical examples to teach hemodynamics, Swan-Ganz monitoring, CVP, intra-aortic balloon pump concepts, critical care monitoring, patient assessment, and chest X-ray interpretation.
- Supervised students during clinical rotations at Hialeah and Parkway Hospitals, guiding bedside respiratory care practice, patient assessment, oxygen therapy, ventilator concepts, documentation habits, infection control, professional communication, and clinical decision-making.
- Evaluated student performance through classroom participation, clinical observation, skills validation, formative feedback, and alignment of learning objectives with NBRC expectations, supporting student readiness for safe respiratory care practice and professional credentialing.
- Applied teaching and learning technology principles to strengthen classroom instruction, clinical teaching, competency validation, and learner-centered feedback.
Regional Director
Pulmonary Health Network
Miami, FL
07.2002 - 07.2005
- Directed respiratory services across multiple facilities, ensuring 100% compliance with JCAHO and ASHA.
- Managed Sleep Study, PFT, and ABG labs; trained new JCAHO and OSHA inspectors.
- Applied health care management principles to regional service coordination, regulatory readiness, laboratory oversight, staff training, and cross-site operational consistency.
- Contributed to research on Alpha-1 Antitrypsin under Dr. Campos.
Staff Respiratory Therapist
Miami VA Hospital
Miami, FL
02.1996 - 03.2013
- Provided bedside respiratory care in acute and critical care settings, including ventilator initiation/management, airway clearance, aerosolized medication delivery, and oxygen therapy titration.
- Supported emergency response and airway management, including assistance with intubations, rapid response/codes, and troubleshooting acute ventilatory failure.
- Performed and interpreted diagnostic testing as assigned, including ABGs, bedside spirometry, and support for pulmonary function testing workflows.
- Precepted and supported staff and students as needed, reinforcing safe practice, policy adherence, patient-centered communication, and continuous professional development.
Education
Ph.D. - Education
University of Arizona Global Campus
04.2026
Master of Arts - Teaching and Learning with Technology
Ashford University
01.2020
Bachelor of Arts - Health Care Management
Ashford University
01.2019
A.S. - Respiratory Care
California College of Health Science/Independence University
01.1999
Nursing Coursework -
Miami Dade College & Broward Community College
01.2004
Skills
- Clinical Systems & EHR
- CPRS
- KEA
- PDM
- Documentation workflows
- Clinical data review
- Interdisciplinary communication
- Respiratory service reporting
- Ventilation & Respiratory Equipment
- Philips V60
- Maquet MRI ventilator
- Hamilton T1
- Puritan Bennett 840/760
- Dräger V500
- Vapotherm
- AIRVo
- Aerogen
- High-flow oxygen
- Invasive ventilation
- Noninvasive ventilation platforms
- Diagnostics & Lab Quality
- Blood gas analyzers
- I-STAT
- ABL80
- Nova
- Prime Plus
- ABG analysis
- PFT support
- Bedside spirometry
- Validation studies
- Proficiency testing
- CAP/CAPS-aligned quality practices
- Educational Technology
- Learning management systems
- VA Talent Management System
- Online learning tools
- Videoconferencing
- Simulation-based instruction
- SimMan/SimMan 3
- ACLS/BLS skills training
- Research & Productivity Tools
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Excel
- PowerPoint
- Word
- Qualitative research methods
- Scholarly writing
- Instructional materials development
- Curriculum documentation
- COARC-related data support
Affiliations
- American Association of Respiratory Care (AARC)
- National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC)
- Golden Key International Honor Society (UAGC)
- AHA Instructor: ACLS and BLS Certified
Supplemental Employment Context
08/22/25, 29, 10/01/16, 08/31/25, Working full-time at the Miami VA Hospital., 03/01/13, 07/31/13, Moved to Alliance, Nebraska, to take care of my mother after my father passed away., 08/01/05, 08/31/07, Employment details are accurate as listed above (additional concurrent roles during this timeframe)., 02/01/97, 03/31/13, Involved holding multiple jobs while working full-time at the Miami VA Hospital.
Certification
RT7800, RT 2638, RT 0980, YM018746, Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT), ACLS Instructor, BLS Instructor, Certified, COR (Contracting Officer's Representative)
Core Competencies
Curriculum development, Adult learning theory, Instructional design, Learning outcomes alignment, Learner assessment, Educational technology integration, Simulation-enhanced teaching, Faculty-style academic communication, Qualitative research methods, Scholarly writing, Data-informed decision-making, Quality improvement support, Integration of current evidence into clinical and educational practice, Service-line operations, Staff supervision, Budget support, Resource planning, Equipment procurement, Policy/protocol development, Performance appraisals, Compliance support, Quality improvement, Administrative decision-making, Ventilator management, Weaning support, Airway clearance, Oxygen delivery systems, Interdisciplinary coordination in ICU/ED/inpatient environments, Complete PFTs (DLCO, Pre-Post), ABG Analysis (CAPS Lab Management), Bedside Spirometry, Holter monitor and Embeta sleep devices, ACLS/BLS Instructor, Rapid Response Team (RRT), Disaster Emergency Management (DEMPS)
Timeline
Chief Respiratory Therapist
Miami VA Hospital
10.2016 - 08.2025
Registered Respiratory Therapist / Morale Committee
Clarksburg, VA Hospital
09.2015 - 09.2016
Respiratory Supervisor
Black Hills Health Care System (VA)
08.2013 - 08.2015
Clinical & Didactic Instructor
ATI College of Health
09.2007 - 12.2012
Regional Director
Pulmonary Health Network
07.2002 - 07.2005
Staff Respiratory Therapist
Miami VA Hospital
02.1996 - 03.2013
Ph.D. - Education
University of Arizona Global Campus
Master of Arts - Teaching and Learning with Technology
Ashford University
Bachelor of Arts - Health Care Management
Ashford University
A.S. - Respiratory Care
California College of Health Science/Independence University
Nursing Coursework -
Miami Dade College & Broward Community College