March 7, 2023
On Wednesday, March 1 in a medical/science lab at 199 Chambers Street, 21 Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC/CUNY) Respiratory Therapy Technology (RTT) majors were honored in a traditional White Coat Ceremony that marked their transition to the hands-on, clinical-care portion of their degree program and the onset of the students’ first clinical course, RTT 202.
“From this point forward, every semester, the students will spend a portion of their time in public or private hospitals. Each student will be mentored by a licensed respiratory therapist and perform the duties of a respiratory therapist under the supervision of their mentor,” said RTT Professor Michael A. Nazzaro. “The clinical portion of the RTT degree program is where theory meets practice and students see the critical impact of the respiratory therapist on patient care.”
Each student at the March 1 event received a copy of the RTT 202/210 Clinical Procedure Manual as well as their unique BMCC RTT Student Lab Coat Patches.
Students who were part of the ceremony were Azeez Adelekn, Brandan Joseph, Jajdeo Bassant, Lucien Cinndya, Gemalyn Chin, Luis Conrado, Fatoumatta Dibbasey, Marc-Eddy Fils-Aime, Danica Frugis, Sharnine Harris, Priscilla Jodhan, Alyssa John, Hajar Manssoum, Kaliyah Martineau, Foteh Marufzoda, Livdline Nicholas-Fancois, Isabel Piecha, Devindra Rupram, Rahail Toppa and Skyelar Winner.
Also in attendance were Everett Flannery, Chair of the Allied Health Sciences department; RTT Professors Angela Lorenzo, Juana Rodriguez and Michael Nazzaro, and long-time administrative assistant Deborah Lane.
The field of respiratory therapy has grown as an employment opportunity since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, says Professor Nazzaro. Another factor is the expansion of the older adult population, which is causing an increase in respiratory conditions and disorders that restrict lung function.
According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of respiratory therapists is projected to grow 14 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations.
BMCC’s Respiratory Therapy Technology program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC), and graduates are eligible to take the Certification and Registry Examinations administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care, Inc.
In addition to its Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree program in Respiratory Therapy Technology, the Allied Health Sciences department offers A.A.S. programs in Health Information Technology and Parademic, as well as a certificate program in Health Informatics.
For more information, contact the Allied Health Sciences department at hlt@bmcc.cuny.edu.
The hands-on, clinical portion of the degree program for Respiratory Therapy majors, supports BMCC’s strategic goals including Strategic Goal #3: Integrate Career Development throughout the Student Experience.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
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White Coat Ceremony honors 21 Respiratory Therapy Technology (RTT) majors as they transition to the clinical, patient-care portion of their degree studies
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RTT graduates earn an Associate in Applied Sciences (A.A.S.) degree and are eligible to take the Certification and Registry Examinations administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care, Inc.
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For more information about the Respiratory Therapy, Paramedic and Health Information Technology programs in the Allied Health Sciences department, contact hlt@bmcc.cuny.edu.
