Professors Lead Respective Disciplines at National Academies of Practice
Two College of Health and Human Services professors hold leadership positions with the National Academies of Practice, an interprofessional organization representing multiple health occupations that advise governmental bodies about the health care system.
The nonprofit organization comprises 16 professions, including dentistry, nursing, optometry, psychology, and audiology.
Kim Clark, Ph.D., clinical associate professor and Master of Science in Respiratory Care program director in the Department of Applied Physiology, Health, and Clinical Sciences and A. Suzanne Boyd, Ph.D., associate professor of social work and program faculty member in the Health Services Research Doctoral Program and Doctorate of Public Health Program, are representing their respective disciplines within the National Academies of Practice.
Respiratory therapy academy
Clark is currently serving as vice chair of the Respiratory Therapy Academy within the National Academies of Practice and will move into the chair-elect role this month. In 2026 she will become chair and serve in that capacity for one year and then past-chair for an additional year.
“The focus of the National Academies of Practice is to get us out of our silos so we can work together toward a common goal to help push forward better patient care practices that improve patient outcomes,” Clark said.
Clark has been a credentialed respiratory therapist for more than 30 years. Her research interests and publications are focused on evidence-based practice, interprofessional education, and patient-ventilator interaction. In addition to her National Academies of Practice role, Clark participates on committees with the American Association for Respiratory Care and is serving a two-year term as president-elect of the American College for Respiratory Therapy Education. She will become president of that organization in 2026 for a two-year term.
“Most of us are connected to organizations focused on our specific disciplines — I do a lot of work within my domain of respiratory therapy — but through the National Academies of Practice, we can bring different health professionals together to have a seat at the same table to talk about what’s important and how we can move the needle to collaboratively improve patient care,” Clark said.
Social work academy
Boyd is currently serving as chair-elect for the Social Work Academy within the National Academies of Practice. Later this month, she will begin her one-year term as chair followed by a one-year term as past-chair.
“Now that UNC Charlotte has reached R1 research status, it’s even more important to foster professional collaboration,” Boyd said. “That’s what the National Academies of Practice offers: opportunities to learn with, from, and among different health professions as well as engage with members of my own field.”
Boyd’s research and scholarship agenda focuses on child, adolescent, and mental health services, emphasizing children in residential care and the impact of multiple sclerosis on individuals and families, especially in underrepresented groups. As an emerging scholar in multiple sclerosis research, she is committed to expanding the role of social workers in the multiple sclerosis field and serves on the Board of Trustees for the Greater Carolinas Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
During her leadership tenure at the National Academies of Practice, Boyd hopes to double the current membership of the Academy of Social Work and increase opportunities for Academy of Social Work members to collaborate with other academies within the organization.
“My leadership role provides a platform to advocate for integrating the social work perspective into health care settings and influencing policy and practice that can be shared with students and colleagues,” Boyd said.