Our condolences are with the family and friends of Dr. Forrest M. Bird, who died at his home in Idaho on August 2, 2015. He was 94 years old.
Dr. Forrest Bird (yes, THAT Dr. Forrest Bird, inventor of the modern ventilator back in the 1950s) has been a member of the AARC for nearly 60 years now, and over the years he has served as an ideal resource, mentor, and friend to the profession of respiratory care. In October of 2009 he was honored for his many, many contributions to pulmonary medicine when President Barrack Obama presented him with the National Medal of Technology and Innovation during a White House ceremony. The award recognizes individuals or companies for their outstanding contributions to the promotion of technology for the improvement of the economic, environmental, or social well-being of the United States.