Awards
The VSRC has always tried to recognize those who contribute to the field of Respiratory Care. In 1983 under President Robert Ashley of Virginia Beach, two awards were established.
The James P. Baker, MD Award was to be presented annually to the Respiratory Therapist who has contributed the most to the Society during the year. The other award, the Robert A. Bageant Award, was to be presented to the physician who has contributed the most to the Society during the year.
The current Society President in conjunction with past presidents, determine who the recipients should be. James P. Baker, MD helped establish Respiratory Therapy and the VSRC in Virginia and has been actively involved since inception.
Dr. Baker was born in Virginia, attended Medical School at MCV and held academic appointments at MCV and Eastern Virginia Medical School from the 1960's to the 1990's. He served on RT School Program Advisory Committees, he represented the American Thoracic Society to the AART, he was an oral examiner for the NBRC, he was a site visitor for AMA Schools approved for RT and he served as member of the AMA JRCTE. He has distinguished himself in the ALA and ATS. He has presented countless informative presentations at VSRC Seminars and to a host of others on pulmonary medicine topics. Dr. Baker received several teaching awards at Medical Schools and served as Director Pulmonary Division at Eastern VA Medical School, Chairman Dept. of Internal Medicine and Interim Dean while there. The AARC granted Dr Baker Honorary Membership where he used to serve on the Association's Board of Medical Advisors.
Robert A. Bageant, RRT first served as a volunteer in the late 1950's at the old Garfield Hospital in Washington, DC. Three DC hospitals, Garfield being one, closed and opened the Washington Hospital Center in 1958. Bob's father was Chief of Anesthesiology and there being no official Volunteer Program, Dr Bageant directed some of Bob's volunteer activities. Starting in 1960, for several years Bob served as a hospital employee at WHO, but not in Oxygen Therapy where Easton Smith was Dept Director. During the early 1960's he acquired a BS and MS in Biology and after leaving the US Army and Texas in 1970, he attended Inhalation Therapy School at WA Hospital. The program there was taught through the Anesthesiology Dept. After IT school, he worked for Pulmonary Medicine and then as Director of Inhalation Therapy. The IT school was transferred from WA to Piedmont Virginia Community College and Bob served as Program Head and Clinical Coordinator along with UVa responsibilities for several years. He served VSRT as President and in other positions for 25+ years. He served as Assistant Editor to Phillip Kittredge for RC, as an Oral Examiner and Item Writer for NBRC.
While many therapists and physicians have contributed greatly to the Society, the decision as to whom the awards should be presented is always difficult.
Winners can be seen in the VSRC History.
