Robert L. Chatburn, MHHS, RRT-NPS, FAARC is Associate Professor, department of medicine, Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University and Fellow of the American Association for Respiratory Care. Rob is currently the clinical research manager, section of respiratory therapy, at the Cleveland Clinic. Previously he was the technical director of respiratory care at University Hospitals for 20 years. He is the author of 11 textbooks and over 250 publications in medical journals. He is an Associate Editor of Respiratory Care Journal and is recognized internationally as a research scientist and authority on mechanical ventilation and pediatric respiratory care. Mr. Chatburn was born and raised in Niles Ohio.

He received an AS degree from Cuyahoga Community and BS and MHHS degrees from Youngstown State University. He started his career at Rainbow Babies & Childrens Hospital in 1977. In 1979 he was promoted to research coordinator. In 1986 he took the position of technical director of pediatric respiratory care and in 1995 annexed the adult division as well. In 1997 he became assistant professor of pediatrics at Case Western Reserve University and was promoted to associate professor in 1998. In 2006 Mr. Chatburn became clinical research manager, section of respiratory therapy, at the Cleveland Clinic. His academic appointment is currently associate professor, department of medicine, Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University.

Rob was among the first 13 people awarded fellowship in the American Association for Respiratory Care in 1998 and was the recipient of the 2007 Forrest M. Bird Lifetime Scientific Achievement Award.