Respiratory Care Department Earns Apex Designation
| For the third consecutive time, the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) has recognized the College of Health Professions Department of Respiratory Care program with its Apex Designation for 2027-2028.
The department offers a bachelor’s degree in Cardio-Respiratory Care and a master’s degree in Respiratory Care. Only nine other programs nationwide earned the recognition, less than 5% of the 500 respiratory care programs in the U.S.
First developed by AARC in 2017, the association bestows the designation every two years to honor respiratory care departments and educational programs that exemplify excellence in evidence-based care and uphold the highest standards in patient care and education.
“We are delighted to receive the Apex award for a third time. It recognizes our excellent evidence-based structure, curriculum, instruction, and faculty. Our team does an incredible job of preparing tomorrow’s respiratory care leaders, and it’s gratifying that the association believes we have succeeded in doing that,” said Tom Jones, Ed.D., RRT, department chair and program director.
The designation includes seven recognition categories: acute care hospitals, international acute care, long-term care facilities, education programs, home medical equipment companies, post-acute care, and dedicated transport teams.
“These APEX-recognized organizations are leaders in our field, setting the standard for high-quality respiratory therapy,” said Dana Evans, MHA, RRT, the association’s president. “Earning this designation reflects not only specialized clinical and educational expertise, but also a deep commitment to advancing care for patients of all ages in the communities they serve.”