Dr. Matt Whited
Psychology Discipline Chair
WHITEDM@ECU.EDU

Tell us what led you to run for the position on the NCCRA Board of Directors

I’m involved with AACVPR conference planning and I have a great group of mental health colleagues in that organization, so I leapt at the opportunity to make connections like that closer to home.

Please provide a bio highlighting special training, skills or hobbies that you bring to your profession and the board of directors.  Please focus on the professional qualifications and strengths

I’m a clinical health psychologist, so my strengths lie in helping people improve their health behaviors and ameliorating any mental health factors that are interfering with making changes in health behaviors. I am a faculty member at East Carolina University and much of my work centers around research and training of future doctoral-level health psychologists. I’m partnered with my local CVPR (at ECU Health in Greenville formerly Vidant Medical Center) where we provide psychosocial support and education to patients. We’re also experimenting with innovative treatments to increase patient success with CVPR.

Describe the direction that you would like NCCRA to take in the future and what part you would like to take in that journey

I would like to continue to expand the role of mental health care in facilitating CVPR attendance and engagement.

What are your interests outside of work?

I enjoy fishing quite a bit, especially with friends and family. I also do a bit of woodworking on the side.

Joel Tipton
New Regional VP for the Mountain region
joel.tipton@adventhealth.com

I received my BS degree in exercise science from Kent State University and completed graduate studies at Ball State University leading to certifications from The American College of Sports Medicine as a Certified Exercise Specialist (CES), Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist (RCEP), and Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-CEP). In 1991 I started my career in cardiopulmonary rehab in Ft. Lauderdale Florida that included starting and managing cardiac and pulmonary rehab at Cleveland Clinic Florida. In Florida, I also served on the board of the Florida Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Association in various positions including president in 1996-97. In 2001 I moved to Hendersonville, North Carolina to manage Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab at Pardee Hospital that included a major expansion and centralization of services including diabetes education, physical, occupational, aquatic, and speech therapy, and a comprehensive medical wellness center. I also served our NCCRA board from 2008-2012 as Mountain Vice President, President Elect, and President. In 2012 NCCRA received the award from AACVPR as “Outstanding Affiliate Society” at the AACVPR annual national conference. In 2012 my family experienced some traumatic events that necessitated my attention and focus toward my family. As such, I chose to pull back from all “extracurricular” activities at that time. My family is doing much better now and I now feel ready to do whatever I can to promote our common goals toward advancing the quality of our rehabilitation and prevention programs while increasing accessibility to our patients by eliminating or reducing barriers…..including financial, legislative, regulatory, and logistical barriers. I presently and proudly work at AdventHealth Hendersonville as Coordinator of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. If elected, I look forward to getting to know and serve our Mountain Region and NC state members the best I can. In my spare time I serve as a volunteer ski patroller at a local ski area (Cataloochee) and also enjoy hiking, kayaking, and mountain biking.

Amy Birling
New Regional VP for the Piedmont region
birlings@att.net

Amy Birling has worked in the field of cardiac rehabilitation for over 15 years. She received her B.S. in Exercise Science from the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse. She holds several certifications including AACVPR CCRP, ACSM CEP, ACSM EP-C, ACSM EIM-Level 3, and CEPA-ASCM RCEP. Amy has worked at WakeMed Health and Hospitals for the past 15 years where, as the Cary Cardiac Rehab Program Director, has led the team to multiple PRC 5-Star Designations for Excellence in Healthcare. She has also been a recipient of WakeMed’s Circle of Excellence and Clinical Excellence Awards and is a graduate of the Aspiring Leaders Program.

Judith M. Hinderliter
UNC Wellness Centers at Meadowmont
Judith.hinderliter@unchealth.unc.edu

Tell us what led you to run for the position on the NCCRA Board of Directors

My involvement on the Board was initiated by my supervisor when she was serving as the NCCRA president.  The position of Nutrition Discipline Chair became open under her tenure, so she asked if I was interested.  I was also CV Director for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics dpg. and thought it would be a good fit.  My goal has been to make nutrition an important part of

Cardiac Rehab programs.

Please provide a bio highlighting special training, skills or hobbies that you bring to your profession and the board of directors.  Please focus on the professional qualifications and strengths.

I have been a RDN for over 44 years.  My first job was with a Cardiac Rehab Program that was an NIH study at Washington University Medical School in St Louis in 1978.  Having just run Boston and NYC Marathons, I knew I had found my niche…nutrition and exercise!!!  Working with folks to lead a heart healthy lifestyle, as well as getting to know them instead of doing a diet instruction as they were heading out the door from the hospital  was so much more helpful and rewarding.  After getting my MPH at U of Michigan, I worked as a Nutritionist with an NIH Adolescent Obesity study and in Pediatric Cardiology Clinic at the U of M; as a Program Director for Carolina Fitness at UNC (that I modeled after CR), as a Nutritionist for Women’s Health Initiative (UNC 1 of 40 centers that had women on low fat diets to see if it lowered their risk of heart disease and cancer) and for  the past 13 years I have been a Nutritionist at the UNC Hospitals Wellness Centers a Meadowmont working with Cardiac Rehab.  I feel my many experiences, as well as being married to a cardiologist, have continued to fuel my passion for promoting a heart healthy lifestyle.  

Describe the direction that you would like NCCRA to take in the future and what part you would like to take in that journey

I would like to see NCCRA continue to support CR programs as they grow and try new ways of providing care either in person, home based or virtually.  Having programs share what works and what doesn’t so we can all provide the best care would be helpful.

What are your interests outside of work?

Outside of work, you can find me running (slowly…), daily hiking with my 2 Golden retrievers, reading, spending time with my kids and grandkids, or traveling. A recent trip to celebrate turning 65 and our 40^th wedding anniversary was an 8 day rafting trip on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, sleeping under the stars, and going over 244 rapids!

Mary Ann Compton
UNC Hospitals
Chapel Hill, NC
Mary.Compton@unchealth.unc.edu

Tell us what led you to run for the position on the NCCRA Board of Directors

My involvement on the Board of Directors was initiated by my supervisor when she was serving as the NCCRA president.  The position of secretary became open under her tenure, so she asked if I was interested.  I must say that I was very hesitant at first, because I knew that there would be a significant time-commitment.  However, my supervisor had never led me astray, and she assured me that it would be a good experience for me.  As per usual, she was right! 

While I was a bit intimated at first, I soon became swept up in the energy and enthusiasm that the board members had for Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab and for NCCRA.  And I quickly realized that I was making connections with colleagues in a way that I had not prior to my participation on the board.  We were able to share ideas and collaborate on a regular basis.  I no longer went to the symposium intimidated by the number of people I didn’t know but had connections with other board members and their teams in turn.  Additionally, as secretary, being responsible for the registration process has allowed me to put a face with names and connect with members by phone or email.

Please provide a bio highlighting special training, skills or hobbies that you bring to your profession and the board of directors.  Please focus on the professional qualifications and strengths.

I have worked in Cardiac Rehab for over 20 years.  I have primarily worked at UNC Hospitals Cardiac Rehab as a Clinical Exercise Physiologist but have also worked in programs in Nebraska and Oklahoma as I followed by husband’s US Air Force assignments.  I feel the experience of working in programs of different sizes and stages of development has been beneficial to my career.  I completed a Master of Arts in Exercise Physiology at UNC (way back when!) and have both the CCEP and CCRP certifications.  My current role is Program Director at UNC Hospitals Cardiac Rehab. 

I’m not sure that I have any special skills that I bring to the table as secretary, other than a commitment to the team and organization and a desire to do my part.  The NCCRA has a proud history.  We owe a huge debt to our predecessors who worked hard to establish the organization that has been a model for others across the country.  And I feel that we have a responsibility to sustain and build the organization so that it stays strong for the future. 

Describe the direction that you would like NCCRA to take in the future and what part you would like to take in that journey

We all know that COVID has changed our world.  Prior to 2020, home-based cardiac rehabilitation was just a thought.  Now virtual or hybrid programs could play a large part in our future.  Through my years of experience, I’ve seen cardiac rehab, once more like an after-thought in the minds of physicians, become so well-supported by the medical community.  I would like to see NCCRA continue to be a vital resource for our programs as we all navigate the future of cardiac and pulmonary rehab. 

What are your interests outside of work?

Outside of work, you can find me running, reading, spending time with my family, or going to the beach.  If I’m able to do the first three on the list AT the beach, then I’m in a perfect world!

The Board looks forward to “seeing you” at the upcoming NCCRA symposium.  For more information please visit http://nccraonline.org/news/2022-nccra-virtual-symposium-agenda-registration-and-brochure/

Our first challenge is an Individual Staff Fitness Challenge.  Who can do the most “sit to stand” reps in 1 minute? We will be accepting submissions from all Pulmonary rehab staff between March 13-19^th.  In the event of a tie, the winner will be decided based on any extra creativity/flair they add to the challenge 🙂 The winner gets a $25 gift card!! 

Please post a pic and tell us how many reps you completed to our NCCRA Facebook page! Simply search for NCCRA on Facebook, click “Like”, and then post! Entries will appear in the Community section. If no one on your team has access to Facebook, you can email Bridget Way at Lighthouse0424@gmail.com and we’ll post for you. Any staff member can enter! 

Our second challenge is a Team Challenge.  Which facility has the most creative Pulmonary Week celebration? This could include decorations, the best game for patients, or creative educational activities!! Anything you want to do to celebrate both staff and patients during the week 🙂 The winning facility will get some awesome 2022 Pulmonary Rehab swag! Please post a picture and a short description onto our Facebook page.

We hope that you will join us in some friendly Pulmonary rehab competition!!

Butch DeBoever
Wilkes Medical Center Cardiopulmonary Rehab
336-903-6980

The Executive Director position on the NCCRA Board of Directors is an appointed position in which I have served since 1999.  Prior to that I served as President of the Association.  I am a Fellow with AACVPR.  This is my 41st year working in cardiac and pulmonary rehab, and I have worked with four different programs in NC.

I am currently the Program Manager at the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Wilkes Medical Center in North Wilkesboro, NC.

My role as Executive Director is to handle the fiscal needs and responsibilities of the NCCRA, to try and provide a sense of continuity to the Board of Directors over time, and to assist with our mission of reducing disability from cardiovascular and pulmonary disease through education, research and disease management.

Away from work, I enjoy reading, cooking, spending time with my granddaughter, and working on growing old gracefully.

The link above takes you directly to the Registration page for the Symposium

• Symposium Registration will be done through the EAHEC registration page
• You must create a MyAHEC account or use an existing one if you have it. (See flowchart)
• Choose which session or sessions you would like to attend.
• Symposium registration must be completed by noon on March 25th

Beth Ann Scott, MS, CES
Appalachian Regional Healthcare system
bascott@apprhs.org

I am the Systems Operations Manager for Appalachian Regional Healthcare System’s (ARHS) Cardiopulmonary Rehab Program.  My journey as a Clinical Exercise Physiologist started in 2008 as a Graduate Student.  Since my first NCCRA Symposium, I’ve relied on the NCCRA as a resource. In 2019 I was asked if I was interested in being the next VP for the Mountain region. I was honored to have this opportunity to get involved and more connected to others in our field.  Another one of my passions is the desire to assure our patients receive the best possible care.  In the future I would like the NCCRA to remain a reliable and affordable source for CEUs.  I believe the NCCRA can help our program maintain the level of excellence our patients deserve.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, and trying to keep up with regular exercise (yoga, running, and wt. training). We have a daughter (age 6) and twin boys (age 4) whom we try to keep up with. I have enjoyed snowboarding in the past and am eager to hit the slopes with my daughter. In warmer months we like to hike, camp and go white water rafting with friends. My husband has his own business as a blade smith/knife maker and I enjoy seeing every single thing he creates – he’s an amazing artist! We love living in these mountains of Western NC and we have found an amazing community here.

We are so pleased that following the 2022 NCCRA symposium Beth Ann will be rolling into the Incoming President role.  Her movement into this new role will leave a vacancy for a Mountain region Vice President.  Please reach out to us if you are interested in applying for this position or even if you have questions about what the position entails.