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McManus gives Respiratory Care Program update

By Derek Kirk
Posted 2/21/23

LOCH SHELDRAKE – SUNY Sullivan Respiratory Care Program Director, Thomas McManus, gave an overview of the program before the college’s Board of Trustees last Thursday.

McManus, who was …

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McManus gives Respiratory Care Program update

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LOCH SHELDRAKE – SUNY Sullivan Respiratory Care Program Director, Thomas McManus, gave an overview of the program before the college’s Board of Trustees last Thursday.

McManus, who was joined by Director of Clinical Education Brandon Bedenbender, highlighted in his presentation the various skill sets and curriculum students learn within the program, including the roles and responsibilities of a Respiratory Therapist, the courses required for completion, and graduate retention and test score rates.

Direct patient care is one of the many roles and responsibilities that are taught in the program’s curriculum. These include patient assessment, therapeutic interventions, acute patient care, invasive patient and diagnostic procedures, and patient education.

McManus said that the patient education portion of the studies is important to the prolonged health of respiratory patients, allowing them to be educated on and aware of their condition even outside of the doctor’s office.

The basic layout of the educational process for the program was laid out by McManus. Students begin in the classroom with didactic training, then move onto laboratory work with practical skills and then clinical simulations. Finally, the clinical experience is attained with work in hospital patient care.

Employment opportunities in the field are also locally incentivized, with a number of hospitals in the Hudson Valley hiring and retaining a large number of graduates from the program.

The course had reached its capacity with 20 students. McManus said that there is a possibility of the limit being raised in the future.

According to McManus, the program has admitted 48 students into the program throughout the past five years, with 37 of those students graduating. This makes the overall program graduate retention rate 77 percent, with McManus stating the goal of the program is to bring the number to at least 80 percent.

Bedenbender spoke on how the recent grants the program has overseen have assisted in updating the various medical equipment utilized by students studying respiratory care. Bedenbender noted that even in just his 17 years of studying in the field, some of the technology used by practitioners has evolved over three generations.

Bedenbender also noted that due to higher demand for respiratory care professionals, new affiliation sites are being established – allowing larger and better connections with healthcare institutions for future graduates of the program.

New Trustee welcomed

The Board of Trustees welcomed a new member to sit at the table, Dr. Ellen Galligan, who was introduced by Board of Trustees Chairperson, Dr. Nancy Hackett, as she begins her tenure, succeeding longtime Trustee Phyllis “Penny” Coombe.

Galligan is the Vice president emeritus at SUNY Sullivan and has worked in a variety of different positions at the college from 1989-2010. Galligan was said to be a good addition to the Board of Trustees by Dr. Hackett.

Galligan was appointed to the board by Governor Kathy Hochul and her term expires in 2027. 

“I am honored to be appointed to the SUNY Sullivan Board of Trustees,” said Dr. Galligan. “I began my studies at a community college and believe in its mission to provide opportunity for students to achieve their educational goals. I thoroughly enjoyed working with the students, faculty, and staff at SUNY Sullivan, and I look forward to serving the College in this role.”

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