THEC Grant Funds Respiratory Care Program Expansion

Dr. Sheila Williams, dean of health programs, and Sara Smith, director and associate professor of respiratory care, are shown in one of the college’s health simulation labs.

Program to Be Offered at Sevier County Campus

A $1.4 million grant from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) will enable Walters State to expand its Respiratory Care Program to the college’s Sevier County Campus. The program will also fund recruitment methods beginning with middle school students.

The grant is part of THEC’s “Rural Health Care Pathways Expansion Grant,” which provided grants of up to $2 million to 20 higher education institutions across the state. 

“Respiratory therapists are essential in healthcare facilities and many of our rural counties have a constant demand for these professionals,” said Dr. Sheila Williams, dean of Health Programs at Walters State and co-director of the new grant program. “This grant will enable us to double the number of graduates and begin sharing the details of this rewarding career with more students beginning with middle schools.”

THEC data shows a strong need for more registered respiratory therapists in East Tennessee, with the profession often listed as a high-demand job with a higher-than-average wage range. Walters State has a 100% placement for its Respiratory Care Program graduates.

Respiratory therapists are essential members of the healthcare team. They may work in acute care, emergency care and on an outpatient basis. Respiratory care graduates are prepared to provide oxygen therapy and ventilator management among many other responsibilities. 

Walters State’s Respiratory Care Program takes five full-time semesters to complete, with graduates earning an Associate of Applied Science degree. The curriculum includes several clinical practice rotations across East Tennessee. Graduates take the National Board of Respiratory Care exam to become a nationally recognized registered therapist. The program is accredited through the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care.

Recruitment activities funded through the grant include middle and high school visits and connecting students interested in health programs to related dual enrollment classes. The college will also host four career camps and participate in allied health open houses. 

For more information on Walters State’s Respiratory Care Program, visit http://bit.ly/3GftBn9. For more information about THEC’s Rural Health Care Pathways Expansion Grant, visit www.tn.gov/thec.