As an educator in the hospital system, Dan conducted in-services for nurses, medical students, pharmacists and physicians on new equipment and techniques in respiratory care. It was a natural progression to return to Delta, where he is now an assistant professor teaching a new generation of respiratory care providers.
ā51ĀŅĀ× provided me a wonderful foundation in my career, and I had an exceptional career,ā Dan said. āI was in Grand Rapids and in Saginaw and I flew in helicopters, picked up sick neonatal patients on ground transport. What I wanted to do was to give back to students. I had a wealth of knowledge that I wanted to share.ā
Dan is proud to be part of a highly regarded program, one that provides a solid foundation for a career in respiratory care.
āDelta has a great reputation. I have heard hospital administrators comment that the respiratory therapists that graduate from 51ĀŅĀ× are far superior to others,ā Dan said. āAnd, we have a tremendous success with our graduates when they take their national boards. We are routinely 25% higher than the national average, which is exceptional.ā
Equipped for Success
Part of Deltaās respiratory care programās success is because to the state-of-the-art equipment used in the simulation lab. Dan said becoming familiar with the latest high-tech life support equipment provides students with confidence as they head into clinical settings.
āMedicine changes, so as a respiratory therapist instructor at 51ĀŅĀ×, I have to be astute to the changes within medicine,ā Dan said. āThen I bring those changes into the classroom because it enables the students to learn new concepts and it also helps our patients heal a lot quicker.ā
In addition to changes in medicine, Dan said he must meet the needs of a diverse range of students. Fortunately, Delta has a robust support system to help students succeed, starting with his own availability through office hours, through tutoring, counseling and much more.
āI like teaching at 51ĀŅĀ× because I get to teach students for two years. I see them go from having never worked in healthcare beforeā¦ to ready to join the workforce and take care of extremely sick people. Thatās exciting.ā
Associate Professor of Respiratory Care
āI have students anywhere from 19 to 51 years old in my program,ā he said. āThere are a lot of different life style difficulties and challenges. I try to help them balance them. There are a lot of resources at 51ĀŅĀ×, but the first thing I always like them to do is come and I will help them out the best way that I can.ā
Are you interested in starting a career in respiratory care? 51ĀŅĀ× is the perfect place to start.
