RT students practicing on a model baby
ATLANTA—The Department of Respiratory Therapy at Georgia State University has received the 2021-22 American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) Apex Recognition Award, which recognizes departments that demonstrate high-quality care.
AARC cited Georgia State’s best practices in educating future respiratory therapy practitioners and cited the program among an elite group of respiratory care educational programs in the U.S. to receive the award. The respiratory therapy program in the Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions is one of three higher education institutes to receive the award twice, along with Rush (Ill.) University and SUNY Upstate Medical University.
“Georgia State University shines in the reflection of your achievements, and our community benefits enormously from the work for which you are being recognized,” said Dr. Mark Becker, president of Georgia State.
“We’re proud to have such an outstanding respiratory therapy program that is nationally recognized, especially during this challenging time for respiratory therapy professionals,” said Dr. Huanbiao Mo, Lewis College dean.
“Thank you to the RT faculty for your dedication and hard work you provide to make Georgia State University a premier RT institution,” said RT department chair Dr. Doug Gardenhire.
Established in 1969, the Department of Respiratory Therapy has graduated more than 1,450 respiratory therapists and maintained a 100 percent pass rate on licensure exams for multiple years in a row. Georgia State was the second college or university nationwide to offer a bachelor’s degree in respiratory therapy and is a leader in the educational field.