Leadership Development Academy

New to AACVPR this exclusive, seven-month, virtual program is tailored for both current and aspiring leaders in our multidisciplinary field — that includes cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation program directors, healthcare administrators, nurses, exercise physiologists, respiratory therapists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and any professionals aspiring to lead and manage cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs.

Currently, 50 professionals invited to join the first inaugural AACVPR Leadership Development Academy cohort are gaining foundational skills in program management through a comprehensive curriculum covering eight crucial areas including financial management, quality improvement, and human resource leadership. Under the guidance of industry experts, they're enhancing their skills and applying them to a practical capstone project to help address a challenge at their current or prospective programs.

→ Learning Objectives (click to expand)

Acquire skills that'll address the complexities of management and operations in cardiopulmonary rehabilitation impacting your career, team and program.
Create and implement strategies to garner patient engagement, program improvement and data for informed decision-making.
Further develop your communication competency to navigate crucial conversations effectively.
Establish strategies for personnel management and fostering a strong team dynamic.
Construct a comprehensive improvement plan that addresses key principles and a program-specific challenge through the course's capstone project.
Build connections with industry experts and a cohort of your peers, establishing a supportive network that will fuel your success for years to come.

→ Expectations of Cohort Participants (click to expand)

Due to the intensive nature of this course, participants will be expected to commit to the full, 7-month cohort experience. This includes:

Attend the cohort kick-off orientation on February 25, 2025.
Complete assigned pre-work for each of the eight modules before the scheduled, 75-minute-long, live cohort meetings.
Actively engage in the discussion forums by posting and/or responding to questions.
Attend all five live cohort sessions and actively participate in discussions with course directors, faculty and fellow attendees.
Complete a capstone project to address a significant issue or opportunity within their current or prospective rehabilitation program.

2025 Cohort Participants

Addie Critcher, MS, ACSM-CEP, CCRP Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center	Adrianne Ulrich, CEP, CCRP, EIM University Hospitals, Cleveland Medical Center	Amanda O'Hara, MS, ACSM-CEP Atrium Health
Amanda Rae Gardner, MS, ACSM-EP Inova Mount Vernon Hospital	Amy Snider, ACSM-RCEP Valley Health Systems	Ashley Markle Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital
Bradly Chapman, MS MPH ACSM-CEP Prisma Health	Brittany Claffey, MS, CEP, CCRP, EIM UMC	Caitlin Coppenrath MS, ACSM-CEP, CCRP MaineHealth
Christopher Brian Aragon, BS, CCRP, CEP, CPT UW Medicine - Northwest	Cindy Haskin-Popp, MS, CEP Corewell Health East	Crystal Saling, RCP, RRT, TTS Hendrick Medical Center
Darren Hill, BS Health-First	Debbie Proctor, MS Peacehealth	Dylan Daniels MS Ex Sci,. ACSM, CEP Elizabethtown Community Hospital
Elizabeth Messer, MSN, RN, CMSRN Mercy Health Clermont	Gregory Levy, CEP Detroit Medical Center - Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital	Gregory P Scharf, BS, ACSM-CEP, CCRP MyMichigan Health
Jennifer Markel, RN, BSN OPRMC	Jessica Dominy, MS, ACSM-CEP, AACVPR-CCRP Vernon Memorial Healthcare	Jessica Watsula, MS, CCRP, CEP Inova Health System
Julie Watson, BS, CCRP, LSSGB Beebe Healthcare	Kaitlyn Kropatsch MS, ACSM-EP` Livingston Healthcare	Kara Marie Johnston, BS Exercise Physiologist Providence Heart Institue
Kasey Jepsen-Large, MA, CCRP, ACSM-CEP, FCSCR Providence Medical Group	Kathleen Drew, MSN, CRNP, ANP-BC, CCRP, CDCES UAB Medical West	Kevin Manwaring, BS Primary Children's Hospital - Intermountain Health
Lauren Conley, MS ACSM-CEP Adventist Healthcare	Leah Hazzard, OTR/L Aspirus Health	Lindsay Olsen Multicare
Madeline Ranum, CEP Jamestown Regional Medical Center	Manuel Silva, RN, MSN The Miriam Hospital Cardiac Rehabilitation	Mary Kate Porterfield, MS, CCRP Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas
Megan James, MS, CEP Intermountain Health, St. Joseph Hospital	Melissa Chang, ACSM-CEP, CCRP Aspen Valley Hospital	Moriah Persondek, CEP Henry Ford Health
Pablo Alejandro Fuentes Tran, MS-CEP Providence Medical Center	Paul Hunt, MA, ACSM-CEP, CCRP Adventist Health + Rideout Memorial Hospital	Reggie Higashi, MSS, CCRP, FCSR Marshall Medical Center
Renee Kellogg RRT, CPFT Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital	Savanna Klimesh MHA, B.A., NBC-HWC Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center	Shannon Fitzgerald, MSN, BS, RN, CCRP, ACSM-CEP, EIM-III, CCRP Department of Veterans Affairs
Stacey Faulkner, MSN RN CHI Saint Joseph London (CommonSpirit)	Stefanie Hatcher, MS Evergreen Health	Susan Skulley, BSN, RN Dominican Hospital
Tammy Elliot, RRT, RPFT MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center	Tiffany Maxson Atrium Health	Tracie Louise Vineyard La Paz Regional Hospital
Vanessa Pahlad-Singh Montefiore Medical Center

Continuing Education Credits

AACVPR CE Credit: The Academy is approved by American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) for a maximum of 9.0 CEs for participation in the on-demand modules and live cohort meetings.
Nurse CE Credit: The Academy is approved by Creighton University Health Sciences Continuing Education for 9.0 contact hours for participation in the on-demand modules and live cohort meetings for nurses.

Participants should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. If you’re unable to complete one of the components, partial credits are available.

Module Overview

This Academy consists of eight modules accompanied by faculty-provided pre-work activities that you will be expected to complete asynchronously prior to the assigned cohort meeting. Stay tuned for more details on each module.

Foundations of Management
Presented by: Dean Diersing, MS, RCEP, EP-C, EIM3, FAACVPR, CCRP

Financial Management Basics
Presented by: Stacey Greenway, MA, MPH, CCRP, FAACVPR

Compliance and Accreditation
Presented by: Lorri Lee, MHA, BS, CCRP, CEP, MAACVPR

Outcomes and Quality Improvement
Presented by: Mark Stout, MS, CCRP, MAACVPR

Marketing and Outreach
Presented by: Betsy Hart, MS, ACSM-CEP, CCRP, FAACVPR

Human Resources and Team Management
Presented by: Beau Proctor, RN

Data Analytics and Technology Integration
Presented by: Shelley McCabe, RCEP, CCRP, FAACVPR

Leading Teams
Presented by: Bryan Sexton, PhD

Leadership Development Academy

2025 Cohort Participants

Continuing Education Credits

Module Overview

The Leadership Development Academy is generously sponsored by