VA Maryland Health Care System Appoints First Advanced Practice Respiratory Therapist Throughout the Veterans Health Administration

She is also the first professional in this new allied health field to be hired within the Veterans Health Administration and in the world. In this role, Conklin will provide advanced respiratory care and pulmonary medicine to veterans enrolled in the local system. She will also conduct consultations and manage both inpatients and outpatients by assessing, diagnosing, writing treatment plans, and serving as a physician extender specialist for patients suffering from cardiopulmonary disease.

Like nurse practitioners, an advanced practice respiratory therapist works under the supervision of a physician. As part of a physician-led team, Conklin will augment patient care by providing specialized care to veterans with toxic exposures to burn pits and other environmental risks that bring pulmonary challenges and health issues associated with service-related health risks.  

“We’re excited to be the first VA health care system to add an advanced respiratory therapist to our clinical team,” said Jonathan R. Eckman, P.E., director of the VA Maryland Health Care System. “Having a skilled specialist in lung disease and lung disorders who can manage care and track testing for cardiopulmonary patients can help us better serve Maryland’s veterans.”

As the first advanced practice respiratory therapist, Conklin will be involved in the management of cardiopulmonary patients, prescribing diagnostics, administering therapies and medications, and monitoring and caring for patients.

“We are thrilled to have Mrs. Conklin onboard, especially since the new PACT Act will bring in more veteran patients with compromised lungs due to burn pit exposures. She will also be able to focus on veterans with COPD, lung infections, pneumonia, lung cancer, and damage from toxic burn pit exposure,” said Daniel Whitt, chief of Respiratory Care at the VA Maryland Health Care System. “Having an advanced practice respiratory therapist will allow us to widen the scope of our clinical care team as she will be working with both the cardiology and pulmonary services.”

“I am extremely grateful to be the very first APRT to practice in a setting dedicated to the brave men and women who served in the U.S. Armed Forces. It is truly going to be an honor to provide the best cardiopulmonary care to our nation’s military veterans,” said Conklin.  

Before joining the VA Maryland Health Care System, Conklin spent 13 years at The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center as a respiratory therapist. Conklin earned her Associate of Science in Respiratory Care from Southern State Community College in 2010. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Health Care Management in 2012 from Ohio Christian University and a Master of Respiratory Therapy (MRT), Advanced Practice from The Ohio State University in 2021.  During her MRT program, Conklin logged more than 1,200 clinical hours in pulmonary, sleep and critical care.

“The graduate degree advancement program in Advanced Practice at The Ohio State University prepared Conklin to deliver advanced pulmonary and specialty care services to patients in the ambulatory and acute care settings,” Whitt said.

Conklin, an Ohio native, lives in Baltimore.