President Elect Nominee
John Emberger, RRT-ACCS FAARC CPHQ
John is a highly accomplished respiratory care professional with over three decades of experience in clinical practice, management, research and lecturing. Currently, he is serving as the Director of Respiratory Care at Christiana Care. John had demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment to high-quality patient outcomes. His extensive background includes roles such as Performance Improvement Program Manager and Critical Care Coordinator, show casing his expertise in both clinical and administrative capacities.
John’s dedication to the field is further evidenced by his numerous certifications, including Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality. He has been an active member of the Delaware Society of Respiratory Care since 1997 and has previously served as its President. His prolific contributions to respiratory care literature and frequent invited lectures highlight his thought leadership and commitment to advancing the profession. John’s proven track record of innovation, collaboration, and excellence makes him an outstanding nominee for the President of the Delaware Society for Respiratory Care.
Secretary Nominee
Kristin Daskilewicz, MSM-HCA, RRT-NPS, CPFT
Kristin has been an active member of the DSRC for numerous years. She volunteered with the registration process at our fall DSRC conferences and later became the Election Chairperson. For the past four years, Kristin has served as the DSRC Secretary. Kristin takes pride in her contributions to engage and promote the respiratory profession. She has been a therapist for 14+ years at Nemours Children’s Hospital. She has grown in her profession and is currently the Manager for Respiratory Care –Outpatient and Sleep Medicine. She has experience in both the in-patient and outpatient realm. In her current role, she has been integral in supporting Respiratory Therapists at satellite locations throughout the Delaware Valley. Kristin remains dedicated to the DSRC and wholeheartedly supports all the benefits the DSRC provides to Delaware therapist.
Junior Delegate Nominees
Jennifer Whitehead MSRC, RRT, RRT-NPS
Jennifer Whitehead has been a registered respiratory therapist for 39 years. She graduated from the joint Atlantic Cape Respiratory Therapy program with an associate’s degree. In 2017 Jennifer earned a BS degree in Respiratory Therapy from University of Cincinnati and a master’s degree in respiratory care leadership from Northeastern University in 2021. In 1991, Jennifer achieved the Neonatal Pediatric Specialist credential. Jennifer was a staff respiratory therapist at Christiana Care Health System from 1985-2005. Later she worked at Union Hospital as a Polysomnographer and has earned the RPSgT credential. Jennifer has over 12 years of providing Respiratory Care in the home setting, educating patients and family members on their respiratory medical care. Jennifer has many years of Pediatric and neonatal experience in both acute and subacute care. Jennifer is presently the Regional Director of Respiratory Operations of the Mid-Atlantic region for PromptCare Respiratory. Jennifer has volunteered as a CASA for the New Castle County courts. She enjoys spending time with her husband of 37 years, adult children, family and friends. She also enjoys sitting by her pool reading and riding her motorcycle.
James P. Keith, BS, RRT, RRT-NPS, RRT-ACCS, AE-C
Jimmy Keith has been a respiratory therapist for eight years in multiple rolls. He currently works as the Clinical Instructor for the Department of Respiratory Care at Nemours Children’s Health. Jimmy has a passion for providing RT education and has presented at numerous local and national respiratory care events. These include ContinuED Respiratory Therapy and Intensive Care Online (ICON). Jimmy is currently involved in research and is a co-chair of the Nemours Respiratory Research Task Force. He is involved in the AARC at a national level, having presented collaborative works at multiple AARC conferences and is currently enrolled in the inaugural year of the American Association for Respiratory Care’s Emerging Leader Program. Jimmy is excited about representing the future needs of Delaware RTs. Jimmy resides in Wilmington with his wife, Miranda and two children, Mae and James.
Director At Large (New Castle County) Nominees
Andrew Phillips, RRT, RRT-ACCS,
Andrew has been a respiratory therapist at Christiana Care for 7 years. His role as an RT4 includes responsibilities of leadership, mentioning and functioning as a staff therapist. Andrew works in the Surgical, Neuro and Neonatal ICUs, is a charge therapist and qualified to intubate. He is currently the chair for the Respiratory Advancement Council at Christiana as well as a member of the Interdisciplinary Tracheostomy Rounding Team. In his spare time, Andrew enjoys surf fishing on the Delaware beaches, skiing and homesteading.
Annmarie Gilroy
Annmarie Gilroy began her career in respiratory therapy in 2014, quickly establishing herself as a skilled and compassionate professional. Over the years, she has honed her expertise in managing respiratory care, ensuring that patients receive the highest quality of care. She is currently the Respiratory Care Manager at Riddle Memorial Hospital in Media, PA. She oversees the daily operations of the respiratory care department, addressing both clinical and administrative responsibilities.
Throughout her career, Annmarie has not only been recognized but also celebrated for her unwavering dedication to patient safety and satisfaction. Her commitment to diversity and inclusion in patient health has also been a significant aspect of her professional journey, further reassuring patients and colleagues alike.
Annmarie resides in New Castle County. She is not just passionate about continuing education, but she also serves as an inspiration for others in the field of respiratory. Her dedication to staying up to date with the latest advancements in respiratory care is a testament to her commitment to excellence.
Treasurer Nominee
L’Tanya Pierce-Thomas, DHA, MBA-NPM, MBA-HCA, RRT-NPS, AE-C
L’Tanya has been a respiratory therapist for over twenty- two years. Her experience has been extensive and diverse including neonates, pediatrics, adults and geriatrics in the acute care and long-term care settings. For eight years, L’Tanya worked at Nemours Children’s Hospital Delaware (NCHDE) as part of the Cardiac Cath lab and Cardiac OR teams as an ECMO specialist and as the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Clinical Lead. At NCHDE, L’Tanya was a member of the Respiratory Care Professional Development Program (RCPD) Committee, where she committed to mentoring staff, encouraged professional development and made sure our profession was recognized and respected as an integral part of the interdisciplinary team. In her current role as the Cardiac Quality & Safety Coordinator, L’Tanya advocates for the value of having the respiratory therapist at the bedside and in non-traditional roles.
As a member of the Advisory Board Committee for the School of Respiratory Therapy at Delaware County Community College (DCCC) / Crozer Chester Medical Center (CCMC) from 2000-2023, L’Tanya was able to support the growth and development of the respiratory profession. She joined the AARC in 2001 while still a student and has been an active member since. In 2020, she held the position on the DSRC Board as the Director at Large for New Castle County where she continued to promote the growth and development of respiratory care throughout the state of Delaware. Her passion and dedication to promoting the respiratory care profession awarded her the 2021 Patricia Blevins Award.