Dr. Michael Prewitt, dean of the Marshall University College of Health Professions, has been elected to serve as a board member for the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care, which is sponsored by the American College of Chest Physicians.
Prewitt has served as a site visitor for the commission for more than 20 years. He will be the first non-physician representative from the organization to serve on the board, according to Tom Smalling, executive director of the commission.
“Becoming a member of the board will allow me to learn more about the accreditation process after the site visit has been conducted,” Prewitt said. “This can only strengthen the goals and objectives we have for our departments within the College of Health Professions and for the university as a whole.”
Smalling said that as a non-physician, Prewitt will provide a “unique insight.”
“(He) has the appropriate credentials and demonstrates a strong involvement in respiratory care,” Smalling said.
Darcy Marciniuk, president of the American College of Chest Physicians, said Prewitt has been a member of the organization since 2000 and an elected fellow since 2001. With his extensive experience in the industry, Marciniuk said, Prewitt was a natural choice for the position.
“Prewitt has an impressive background in respiratory care, from his involvement as director for the respiratory care program at University of Missouri-Columbia for over 20 years to his continued participation in our organization,” Marciniuk said. “Being the first non-physician representative to sit on the board for the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care, he will bring something new to the table.”
As a long-time member of the American College of Chest Physicians, Prewitt will provide input based on the perspectives and experiences he’s gained during his 13 years with the organization. Prewitt said he will travel to Bedford, Texas in November for the first board meeting to officially begin his four-year term.
Since 2000, Prewitt has been a member of the Allied Health and Respiratory Care American College of Chest Physicians NetWorks and currently serves as Vice Chair of the Allied Health NetWork section. As a commission board member, he will be eligible for two consecutive four-year terms.
For more information on the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care, visit www.coarc.com online. For more information on the American College of Chest Physicians, visit www.chestnut.org.
