Dr. Kacmarek has authored 19 text books on respiratory care, published over 175 original research studies and over 200 editorials, reviews or chapters. In addition, he has lectured extensively at respiratory care and medical conferences nationally and worldwide, presenting more than 700 lectures.

He is a fellow of the Society of Critical Care Medicine, the American College of Chest Physicians and the American Society for Respiratory Care. He received the Forrest Bird Lifetime Achievement Award and the Jimmy A. Young Life Time Service Award from the American Association for Respiratory Care and is a College Medalist of the American College of Chest Physicians.

Dr. Kacmarek is also an editorial board member of the Critical Care Medicine, Intensive Care Medicine and Respiratory Care Journals.