| JOHNSON CITY – The cardiopulmonary science (CPSC) program at
East Tennessee State University is the inaugural recipient of
the prestigious Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care
(CoARC) Award for Excellence in Respiratory Therapy Education.
The CPSC program is part of the Department of Allied Health
Sciences in the College of Public and Allied Health and is
housed within the ETSU Nave Center in Elizabethton. This
four-year program leads to the B.S.A.H. degree and prepares
students for careers as respiratory care practitioners.
Dr. Don Samples is the chair of Allied Health Sciences and
serves as a CPSC faculty member, along with Dr. Jeff Farrow,
Shane Keene, Dr. Delmar Mack, and program director Dr. Doug
Masini, who authored the award proposal to CoARC.
Respiratory therapists practice under physician direction and
treat all types of patients, ranging from premature infants
whose lungs are not fully developed to patients with asthma and
older people with chronic lung conditions. The ETSU program has
been in existence since 1977 and has graduated more than 400
students.
“The fact that ETSU is the first program in the nation to
receive this award speaks volumes to the academic integrity of
our cardiopulmonary care training,” said Dr. Randy Wykoff, dean
of Public and Allied Health at ETSU. “Eighteen out of 333
nationally accredited programs were considered for this award,
and we are extremely honored that our accreditation body
acknowledges the university’s strong commitment to preparing
outstanding practitioners.
“I salute Dr. Samples, Dr. Masini, and the entire faculty and
staff for this impressive accomplishment.”
According to CoARC, the ETSU program was recognized for its
achievement in several areas, including distinguished leadership
within the profession; highly qualified faculty; distinction in
the area of teaching; demonstrated major contribution to
respiratory care; and innovative approaches to respiratory
therapy education.
In July, ETSU will be honored with a plaque and monetary
award at the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC)
meeting in Reno. CoARC is sponsored by the American College of
Chest Physicians, the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the
American Thoracic Society, and AARC. |
