2022 Legacy Award

04/27/2022
John Scaggs

2022 Legacy Award Winner is John Scaggs. Congrats, John!

John has been a respiratory therapist for 35 years. Before entering the Respiratory Care Profession, John graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1975 with a BS inf Forestry. He also worked in insurance/securities for Prudential Bache for several years, prior to attending Respiratory School. But finally, in July 1987, our profession gained this great man, full of great knowledge of love for Respiratory care. John’s Respiratory Care career has been filled with educating future practitioners across many medical professions. He has been invited to provide education to medical students, nursing students, and respiratory students. If you ask John a question, not only does he answer the question but can also provide you with all the resources to help you understand further. His passion is nothing short of amazing.

John has written and published several articles, has helped write chapters for texts book, and has spoken at several conferences. He is always reading and evaluating new information that he uses to improve his patient care skills.

Another amazing aspect of John’s Respiratory practice is his commitment to patient care. He will advocate for his patient, no matter the cost. He digs into charts of each of his patients, even the simplest of nebulizer therapy patients, and discovers things many therapists overlook. His patient assessment skills are top notch, and he is called upon to help in many critical situations.

John was nominated for this award by Gina Hoots. She stated, “John has impacted 40 years in Respiratory Care, teaching generations of RTs, physicians, and so many others. In the 1980s he led the Memorial Medical Center’s team which was instrumental in the development of modern patient driven protocols. His research and subsequent published work won AARC awards in the 1980s. He remains a favorite preceptor amongst the students, creating exquisite feedback, detailing strengths, and opportunities for each student under his care.
A few years ago he lectured on current evidence for ARDS management that kept me on the edge of my seat. The next year I was tickled to hear him challenge a speaker on the evidence presented. I was fortunate to spend the last few months at Springfield Memorial Hospital watching him in action at the bedside and soaking up knowledge. He advocates for his patients fearlessly and mentors smart young RTs who are our future. He exudes passion for “doing what is right” based on ethics and current evidence. He is a treasured mentor.”

Congratulations John Scaggs!! It is an honor to have you representing the Respiratory Care Profession. And personally, it is an honor to call you my colleague and my friend! I couldn’t think of a more deserving respiratory therapist to honor!