WVU Respiratory Therapy students gain experience working at WVU Medicine hospitals

Imagine getting paid to gain valuable, real-world experience in your chosen field, all while pursuing your degree. For students in West Virginia University School of Medicine’s Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy (BSRT) program, this isn't a dream—it's their reality.

Through the Excel Student Employment Program, respiratory therapy students are gaining hands-on experience at WVU Medicine hospitals this summer, working alongside full-time respiratory therapists and earning a salary.

The program allows junior and senior respiratory therapy students at WVU to obtain their student license from the West Virginia Board of Respiratory Care (WVBORC), enabling them to practice in a limited role as defined by guidelines agreed upon by the WVBORC, the WVU BRST program and WVU Medicine.

“WVBORC provides clearly defined role responsibilities and limits for student respiratory therapists to allow the students to use their knowledge and skills, but also doesn’t place them in positions that are beyond their abilities and training,” Mike Mehall, M.Ed., RRT, RRT-NPS, RRT-ACCS, CPFT, founding director of the WVU Respiratory Therapy program, explained. “The student employee will provide general respiratory therapy services and therapeutics to patients.”

This summer, seven students are working at WVU Hospitals, including J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital, WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital, and Wheeling Hospital.

“One of the great aspects of this program is that once our student is hired as a student respiratory therapist by the WVU Medicine facility, the position will automatically transition to full-time employment as long as positions are available,” Mehall said. “This provides a direct path for students to gain valuable experience, earn a fair wage for completing the work duties in their role and lock in future employment.”

According to Brad Foringer, administrative director of respiratory therapy at WVU Medicine, the program was established not only to provide experiential learning for students but also to address a need for respiratory therapists in West Virginia.

“The WVU respiratory therapy students are able to provide patient care with their student license, which is helping with staffing shortages across the state,” Foringer said. “This partnership helps to build upon the students’ classroom knowledge and apply it to patient care within the hospital. They are also exposed to being a member of a healthcare team.”

Karen Lindsey, a junior respiratory therapy student from Chillicothe, Ohio, is working at WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital this summer and plans to continue working during her senior year at WVU.

Lindsey grew up with asthma and went through breathing treatments as a child. Her experience inspired her to pursue a career in pediatric respiratory therapy.

“Working at Children's this summer is a phenomenal opportunity for me,” Lindsey said. “It helps me gain more hands-on experience and helps me learn more about pediatric respiratory therapy. This experience will help shape me into a more well-rounded healthcare provider in the future by exposing me to various clinical challenges.

“Observing treatments, working alongside professionals, and engaging with patients is helping me become a better-skilled respiratory therapist.”

The WVU Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy program is one of two BSRT programs in West Virginia, and the only program in the northern part of the state.

For more information on Respiratory Therapy at WVU, visit medicine.wvu.edu/respiratory-therapy.