Wallace State Respiratory Therapy program graduates 32 from program

HANCEVILLE, Ala. — Wallace State Community College’s Respiratory Therapy program recognized 32 students Thursday, May 3, during its pinning ceremony at the James C. Bailey Center.
Awards were presented to several students, including Hannah Crumbley and Cameron Nichols, who tied for the Outstanding Performance in Academics award, and James Sahm, who received the Outstanding Clinical Performance Award.
Program graduate Ryan Jones, who is the Clinical Coordinator of Respiratory Care in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Children’s Hospital in Birmingham was the keynote speaker.
Jones told the students that any hard times they’ve experienced during their time in school will prepare them as they begin their careers, where they will face more hard times.
“What respiratory therapy really taught me was the hard things in life are what makes it worth it,” he said. “Seeing a 4-year-old old patient walk down he hall for the first time in six months really makes it worth it. Helping a severe asthmatic finally find relief after struggling to breathe is what really makes it worth it. Caring for a half-pound infant struggling to survive in the NICU for months and helping them in their car with the family for the first time is really what makes it worth it.
“Respiratory therapy school taught me to appreciate the hard things in life,” he added. “It taught me the importance of teamwork and how to be an integral part of a healthcare team. As newly-graduating therapists, you too will have hard times ahead. However, it’s the hard times that help you grow.”
Wallace State’s Respiratory Therapy program is a five-semester program, with one semester of pre-requisites required before applying to the program. Applications for Fall 2018 entry are being accepted through June 1. For more information, call 256.352.8000 or visit www.wallacestate.edu.