Respiratory Therapy Program Earns AARC Apex Recognition Award

ATLANTA—The Department of Respiratory Therapy at Georgia State University has received the 2019-20 American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) Apex Recognition Award, which recognizes respiratory care departments that demonstrate high-quality care.

AARC cited Georgia State’s best practices in educating future respiratory therapy (RT) practitioners and declared the program among an elite group of respiratory care educational programs in the U.S. to receive the award in its inaugural year. The RT program in the Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions at Georgia State is one of three in higher education to receive the award, along with Rush University and SUNY Upstate Medical University.

“We are pleased to be grouped with these well-respected institutions,” said Dr. Nancy Kropf, Lewis College dean. “I commend the RT faculty on this well-deserved recognition.”

Established in 1969, the Department of Respiratory Therapy has graduated more than 1,350 respiratory therapists and maintained a 100 percent pass rate on licensure exams for multiple years in a row. The program was the second in the nation to offer a bachelor’s degree in RT and continues to be a leader in the educational field. The department is a seven-time recipient of the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care Distinguished RRT Credentialing Success Award.

“Congratulations to the RT faculty for all the hard work you provide to make Georgia State University a premier RT institution,” RT department chair Dr. Doug Gardenhire said.

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For more information on the degree programs in the Department of Respiratory Therapy, visit respiratorytherapy.gsu.edu.