Mississippi Society for Respiratory Care
Good evening,
On behalf of the Mississippi Society for Respiratory Care (MSRC) Board of Directors, we are excited to announce that our 2026 MSRC State Meeting will be held on March 5–6, 2026 at the Eagle Ridge Conference Center & Resort at 1500 Raymond Lake Rd., Raymond, MS 36154.
This event will be an incredible opportunity for education, networking, and growth for students, clinicians, leaders, and vendors across Mississippi.
Attendees
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Attendees must complete and submit the seminar survey to receive a certificate for up to 9 contact hours (hours awarded based on sessions attended).
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Day 1: 6 CEUs
- Day 2: 3 CEUs
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An application has been submitted to the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) for continuing education contact hours.
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Please click here to register so we can accommodate for food
https://msrcweb.regfox.com/2026-ms-society-for-respiratory-care-state-meetingmagnolia-sputum-bowl
Vendors
Added opportunity: A Product Showcase
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During Lunch is a scheduled, informal educational session where vendors can present their products or solutions to clinical and operational stakeholders during the lunch hour.
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The purpose of the showcase is to provide high‑level product awareness, demonstrate clinical value, and answer questions in a non‑promotional, collaborative setting while attendees enjoy a provided lunch.
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Register early: https://msrcweb.regfox.com/2026-vendors-msrc-state-meeting-magnolia-sputum-bowl
Students
Magnolia Student-Director Speed Recruiting opportunity
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A fast‑paced networking experience that pairs students with directors for brief, focused conversations designed to spark recruiting connections and career opportunities.
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Directors Register here: https://forms.gle/HtxCvwMuV5QHLsWY9
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Limited space available
Magnolia Sputum Bowl
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The Magnolia Sputum Bowl will take place alongside the program, with finals held in the General Session Auditorium.
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Prelim will be held March 5th, 2026 during the morning session
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Finals will be held March 5th, 2026 at @6 PM
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To register your class please email magnoliasputumbowl@gmail.com
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Winners get to participate in the AARC Congress
Hotel To book a room:
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Call 601-857-7100 (Front desk number). They will ask for:
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First and last name
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Number of occupants per room
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Phone number
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Email address
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Credit card to hold the reservation
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Or visit the website - and submit an inquiry, and we will contact them
( https://eagleridge.hindscc.edu/event-planning/accommodations)
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Standard rooms: $99
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40 Standard Guest Rooms with two double beds
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We are a non-smoking facility. Designated outdoor smoking areas are available for guests to use during their stay. There will be a $200.00 fine charged to your credit card if the non-smoking policy is violated.
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We enforce a strict “No Pet Policy”, except if a guest requires the assistance of a service dog.
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Identify if ADA accessible room is needed
Hotel amenities
18-Hole Golf Course
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Please see below: https://eagleridge.hindscc.edu/eagle-ridge-golf-course
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Pro Shop - 601-857-5993
Fishing
- Fishing lake available to guests
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Bring your own fishing tackle
Jackie Odom
MSRC Board Member and Program Chair
228-324-3465
In Memoriaum: Robert"Bob" Wall
MSRC Mourns the Loss of Respiratory Care Pioneer Robert “Bob” Wall
The Mississippi Society for Respiratory Care (MSRC) is mourning the loss of Robert “Bob” Wall, a longtime leader, educator, and advocate for the Respiratory Care profession in Mississippi. Wall passed away at his home in December.
Wall was widely recognized as a pioneer in Respiratory Care and played a critical role in shaping the profession across the state. He served for many years on the MSRC Board of Directors and was instrumental in helping secure professional licensure for respiratory therapists in Mississippi.
“Bob was a pioneer for the MSRC and the Respiratory Care profession in Mississippi,” said Ken Thigpen. “He served many years on the MSRC Board of Directors and was instrumental in helping us obtain professional licensure.”
In addition to his advocacy work, Wall dedicated much of his career to education and leadership. He helped educate and mentor future respiratory therapists through his role at Hinds Community College and later served for many years as Director of Respiratory Care at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center.
After stepping away from formal leadership roles, Wall returned to his first passion—bedside patient care—working as a respiratory therapist at St. Dominic’s Hospital.
“After concluding his role in leadership, he returned to his first love as a bedside therapist,” Thigpen added.
Wall’s influence extended far beyond his titles. For many respiratory therapists, he was a mentor, supporter, and friend who witnessed—and encouraged—the evolution of the profession.
“I have known Bob ever since my very first day of even thinking about becoming a respiratory therapist,” said Howard, a longtime colleague. “From that day forward, our relationship was always a ‘Billy Bob,’ ‘Bob Bob,’ and sometimes—when I wanted to impress—‘Mr. Wall.’”
Howard reflected on the dramatic growth of the profession during the years he worked alongside Wall.
“We began as the lowest-paid, hardest-working, and least-respected department in the hospital,” Howard said. “Today, respiratory therapy is one of the departments hospitals depend on the most. We went from OJTs to certified, registered, licensed professionals—and now some therapists have even gone on to become physicians. Bob was an energetic force who supported these transitions.”
Howard added that Wall’s encouragement had a lasting personal impact. “Throughout the years, I sincerely appreciated all the support I received from him. His footprints in respiratory therapy will always be remembered.”
A memorial service will be held Saturday, January 31, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Galloway Methodist Church in Jackson, Mississippi. All family and close friends are invited to attend.
The MSRC encourages members to keep Bob Wall’s family, friends, and the entire respiratory care community in their thoughts and prayers as they honor his life and legacy.
Lisa Brock, MS-HAE, RRT, CPFT
MS Society for Respiratory Care
The Respiratory Care Interstate Compact (RCIC) is an interstate occupational licensure compact for respiratory therapists. There are approximately 130,000 licensed respiratory therapists in the United States. Licensees currently face significant barriers to providing services across state borders, even when they meet the qualifications to practice in another state. The Respiratory Care Interstate Compact will facilitate multistate practice by reducing unnecessary licensure burdens and improve public safety by enhancing state information sharing.
Mississippi RT Car Tag Update
We’re excited to share that we’ve reached our goal of 300 tag applications. To mark this milestone, we held a drawing among the first 300 participants for a $300 cash award. Congratulations to Lainey Hong, who was selected as our prize recipient! Thank you to everyone who took the time to purchase a tag and spread the word! Your involvement made this achievement possible, and we genuinely appreciate your support.
Next Steps: We will be submitting the tag applications to the Mississippi Department of Revenue this month. After submission, it typically takes approximately 2–3 months for the new specialty plate to be configured and moved into production. Afterwards, we will be notified when the tags are available for the public. We will continue to provide updates on our social media channels and on our website as the process moves forward.
Itawamba Community College’s Respiratory Care Technology Program in Tupelo earned one of the highest honors in its field.
2025 Washington D.C. Respiratory Care Fly In
