Seven Oregon Tech’s Respiratory Care Club students traveled to Seaside in March to attend the Oregon Society for Respiratory Care (OSRC) Conference. The conference allowed respiratory therapy students to expand their knowledge, present their ideas and work, and network with other members of the respiratory community.
The students attended lectures that sharpened their learning in the medical world and were able to participate in activities that helped facilitate teamwork and friendship. The conference is held annually to give respiratory therapists (RT) a platform to learn, teach, and better each other in respiratory care.
Julie Pimentel, a senior in Respiratory Care, said the conference was a way to network, learn more about being an RT, and bond with everyone that went. “I enjoyed listening to the many inspirational speakers that came to the conference,” Pimentel said. “I also thoroughly enjoyed seeing and trying out some of the newest equipment that I will be working with in the near future.”
Senior Lyle Lee said the conference was a great opportunity to learn more about his future career. “It was amazing to meet dozens of respiratory therapists and pick their brains about the job we love so much,” Lee said.
Nichole Bodfield is a senior and said the conference allowed her to see new up-and-coming equipment that will be present in hospitals when she graduates. “It also introduced me to the guest speakers and their experiences with being a Respiratory Therapist and that there is still so much that I have not learned yet,” Bodfield said. “I am grateful for the opportunity that the conference gave me.”
Student Involvement and Belonging (SIB) Director Thomas Arce said club-related events are part of SIB’s mission to support student leadership development and to provide opportunities for all Oregon Tech students.
“Respiratory Therapy Club is one of 25 student clubs that identifies as an academic-based club, which supports the academic mission at the university while gathering to create a sense of community and belonging with students in a similar academic major and applied research interests,” Arce said.
SIB supports clubs to bridge the gap between the student experience in-and-out of the classroom.
###
