UWF professor receives Distinguished CHEST Educator award

Amanda Dexter, director of respiratory therapy and assistant professor of clinical practice at UWF, has been named a 2026 Distinguished CHEST Educator. This honor recognizes national excellence, leadership and sustained contributions to clinical education, placing Dexter among the top 3% of CHEST faculty worldwide.

"We are incredibly proud to have someone of Amanda Dexter's caliber leading our Respiratory Care program," said Dr. Shelley Diviney, interim dean of the Usha Kundu, MD College of Health. "Her recognition as an exemplar in the profession speaks not only to her expertise as an educator and leader, but also to the meaningful contributions she has made to advancing respiratory care. It is particularly noteworthy that this distinction is so rarely achieved by a non-physician. That makes this recognition an even greater testament to Ms. Dexter's exceptionalism, her leadership, and the impact she has had on the profession and the students she serves. We are fortunate to have her expertise guiding our program and preparing the next generation of respiratory care professionals."

The American College of Chest Physicians, or CHEST, is a leading professional association in chest medicine. With over 19,000 professionals in pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine, this association seeks to develop innovative outcomes for lung disease patients through research, education, advocacy and philanthropy. Distinguished CHEST Educator recipients are required to have made significant and sustained contributions to leadership, development and delivery of respiratory education over a three year period. The 2026 Distinguished CHEST Educator awardees will be honored during the opening session at the CHEST Annual Meeting on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, in Phoenix, AZ.

"Teaching is one of the most rewarding parts of my career, and my work with CHEST offers a unique opportunity to both teach and learn from colleagues across the many disciplines involved in critical care," said Dexter. "I hope to bring greater awareness to the essential role respiratory therapists play in chest medicine and inspire my students to embrace challenges and pursue opportunities with confidence. Each opportunity we step into helps create a pathway for the next generation while allowing us to continue learning and growing throughout our own careers."

Dexter's career has been characterized by a passion for education, research and global health initiatives. She has traveled nationally and internationally, teaching clinicians, educators and researchers how to incorporate high-fidelity medical simulators into their teaching concepts and healthcare processes. Dexter is also actively engaged in respiratory therapy-related research and advisory roles for global health service projects. She oversees programmatic requirements for CoARC accreditation, coordinates advisory board meetings, provides academic advising and contributes to recruitment efforts.

In 2025, UWF launched the B.S. Respiratory Therapy degree program, which is designed to provide students an exceptional education for a career in respiratory care and develop key skills such as leadership in management and supervision, research and clinical specialization. This program is only the third of its kind in the state of Florida and one of a select few nationwide. As the program director, Dexter collaborates with administration, faculty and staff to develop a nationally recognized educational program. This involves designing and teaching a respiratory-related curriculum, presenting at state and national conferences, and contributing to community, University and department-led committees.

As UWF continues to advance in clinical education and strengthen opportunities for future healthcare professionals, Dexter's accomplishments further enrich the University and, ultimately, improve patient care for the Pensacola community and beyond.

For more information about the UWF Department of Health Sciences and Administration, visit uwf.edu/dhsa. For more information on the Usha Kundu, MD College of Health, visit uwf.edu/ukcoh.