The program prepares students with the knowledge and skills needed to be registered respiratory therapists (RRTs). Students spend extensive hours in clinical rotations to gain real-world experience under the guidance of industry professionals.
Program director Julie Boganwright emphasized the critical role respiratory therapists play in healthcare. “When people think of the medical field, they tend to think of only doctors and nurses, but there are plenty more allied health fields out there where a student might be a better fit,” she said.
Boganwright also addressed the country’s growing need for respiratory therapists and the program’s efforts to fill those holes.
“There is a big need … we work with our local hospitals and clinical affiliates to create more student positions so they can work while attending school,” she said. “We try to increase awareness in the community so we have a higher applicant pool, and we can accept more students into the program.”
Kelsey Burkhart, a program graduate who is now a physician assistant and has spent many years as a respiratory therapist, reflects on her journey at Collin. She claims she was very fortunate to go to school and apply for an externship at Children’s Health in Dallas while in her last year at Collin.
“I couldn’t be more grateful to have the opportunity to work while finishing school, which Collin set all of that up for me,” Burkhart said. “It was very nice to gain some experience before graduating. I was also very fortunate to have transitioned into a full-time position after graduation, so I had my employment already set up for me.”
The Respiratory Care program at Collin College has many accolades and credentials,
including receiving the Distinguished Registered Respiratory Therapist Credentialing
Success Award for
12 straight years.
The program at Collin College aims to meet the growing need by producing highly skilled
graduates who are ready to take on the challenges of this dynamic profession. Whether addressing respiratory crises in critical
care units or educating patients on better lung health, these professionals are essential in improving
the quality of life for countless individuals.
To learn more about the Respiratory Care program at Collin, visit www.collin.edu/rcp.