Leadership Development Academy

Become the Kind of Leader You Want to See

The AACVPR Leadership Development Academy is an exclusive, eight-month, virtual program designed to support the growth of current and aspiring leaders in cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation. This program is ideal for cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation program directors, healthcare administrators, nurses, exercise physiologists, respiratory therapists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and any other professionals aspiring to lead and manage cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs.

50 professionals will be invited to join the AACVPR Leadership Development Academy cohort 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, participants will enhance their skills and apply them to a practical capstone project, addressing a real-world challenge at their current or prospective program.

→ 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, eight-month cohort experience. This includes:

Attend the cohort kick-off orientation.
Complete assigned pre-work for each of the eight modules before the scheduled, 90-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.

Applications are closed.

Member Price	Non-Member Price
$529	$729

Continuing Education Credits

AACVPR CE Credit: The Academy is approved by American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) for a maximum of 10.0 CEs for participation in the on-demand modules and live cohort meetings.
Nurse CE Credit: This course is approved by Creighton University Health Sciences Continuing Education for 10.0 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

Dean Diersing, MS, RCEP, CCRP, FAACVPR

Financial Management Basics

Stacey Greenway, MA, MPH, MAACVPR, CCRP, ACSM-CEP

Compliance and Accreditation

Lorri Lee, MHA, BS, CCRP, CEP, FAACVPR

Outcomes and Quality Improvement

Mark Stout, MS, CCRP, MAACVPR

Marketing and Outreach

Betsy Hart, MS, ACSM-CEP, CCRP, CDCES, FAACVPR

Data Analytics and Technology Integration

Shelley McCabe, EMBA, RCEP, CCRP, FAACVPR

Human Resources and Team Management

Julianne DeAngelis, MS, CCRP, FAACVPR, CEP

Leading Teams

Megan Hays, PhD, ABPP, FAACVPR

2026 Cohort Participants

Aimee Kizziar, MHAL, RCP, RRT-NPS, AE-C, FAACVPR UC Davis Health	Aina Togiai, RRT Kahuku Medical Center	Alicia Pierre, PT, DPT NYU Langone Health
Amelia Blanton, BSN, RN, CCRP WVU Medicine/ Wheeling Hospital	Amy Hunter, BS, RRT Tanner Health	Angie Sierra, RRT,RCP Ascension Seton Highland Lakes Hospital in Burnet Texas
Bethany Yusiewicz, ACSM CEP, CPT WakeMed Health and Hospitals	Bowe Myers MS, ACSM-CEP, AACVPR-CCRP Allegheny Health Network	Chad Glover, M.S. RCEP, EIM3, CCRP Loma Linda University Medical Center-Murrieta
Chrissy Castillo-Chumpitaz, ACSM-CEP Monmouth Medical Center	Christie Palagonia, PT, DPT, CCS NYU Langone Health	Christopher Mosconi, MS, EP, CCRP United Health Services
Cora Hurdle, BSN, RN, CCRP Mercy Health Clermont	Gwen Bridgman, RRT Mahaska Health	Hannah W Feldmann, RRT Beebe Healthcare
Helen Visco, RRT-NPS, CPFT Holy Cross Health	Jacob L. Stone, MSEP, CSCS, CCRP, TTS University of Kentucky	Janelle House, RN Mercy Carthage
Joseph Leduc, BS, CCRP, ACSM-CEP Loyola University Medicine	Juan Juarez Garcia, MS Exercise Science, ACSM-CEP Adventist White Memorial Hospital	Kayla Mahoney, MS, CCRP, CSCS Brown University Health
Kevin Wait, PT, DPT Prairie Ridge Health	Kim Wilson, RN, BSN Bon Secours Mercy Health	Kristin Stewart, BS, MS, CCRP Baycare Health System
Kyla Kirk, RN, BSN, CCRP Mercy Health Clermont	Kyle Purvis, BS IU Health	Larissa DiPace, MS, RN, ACSM-CEP Capital Cardiology Associates
Lindsey De Jong, BSN, RN Orange City Area Health System	Marcie Nor, RN-BC, CCRP Scotland Healthcare System	Marisa Hardison MBA, ACSM-EP, EIM Baylor Scott & White
Marta Supervia Pola, MD, MSc, PhD Gregorio Maranon University Hospital	Michelle Hudson, MHA, BSN, RN, CCRP Lee Health	Morgan Lindsay Givens, CCRP Wellstar Healthcare
Nkem Ulebor, MS Boston Medical Center	Noah Stevenson, ACSM-EP Wellstar Health System	Pamela Green, BSN, RN Ascension Sacred Heart Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Peter Toto, MS, ACSM-CEP Atlantic Health	Ryan Samuels, MS, ACSM-CEP Burke Rehabilitation Hospital	Sarah Tencza, MBA, RRT, RRT-ACCSC Northwest Hospital
Srilekha Reddy Palle, PT, DPT, MBA Inova Health System	Steven Williamson, MS Sutter Health	Sydney Reigle, BS, MS, ACSM-CEP, EIM Valley Regional Hospital
Tawnya Zeidler, ACSM-CEP HCA	Thomas Teigen, EP, MS Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital	Yunjae Jeon-Cooper, RN CHI St. Francis Health

Leadership Development Academy

Become the Kind of Leader You Want to See

Member Price

Non-Member Price

Continuing Education Credits

Module Overview

2026 Cohort Participants

The Leadership Development Academy is generously sponsored by