The Georgia State University undergraduate respiratory therapy (RT) degree program experienced an unprecedented increase in interest for the 2020-2021 academic year. Department chair Dr. Doug Gardenhire reported the largest class of first-year RT students in the program’s 50 plus year history, growth he attributes partially to news coverage on COVID-19.
During the Fall 2020 application period, the RT department received a record number of highly qualified applicants. As a result, the department determined to accept students as many as possible into the Class of 2022, creating the largest class ever accepted and enrolled. Gardenhire thought the widespread news coverage of RTs role in treating COVID-19 patients might have led to the increased interest in the field.
“RTs are the only profession with formal education in mechanical ventilation, which is used to treat the sickest COVID patients requiring ventilatory support,” said Gardenhire. “It’s a very specialized field, with only 150,000 registered respiratory therapists nationally.” He said after COVID, many students began to hear more about the field and Georgia State’s historical reputation in educating highly qualified RTs.
Gardenhire reported these students and the ones graduating this spring face an ideal job market. Demand for registered respiratory therapists in the metro Atlanta area is significant, with more than 200 current job openings.
The Class of 2022 should continue to boost Georgia State’s already strong reputation in the RT field. In January, the department received the 2021-22 American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) Apex Recognition Award for a second time.
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 and the first to offer a master of science in respiratory therapy.