Crafton Hills College’s Respiratory Care Program Captures Third Place in National Contest
Publish Date: Nov. 16, 2023
Crafton Hills College’s respiratory care program continues to distinguish itself as a premier training program, among the nation’s best, by placing third in the Sputum Bowl, which, despite its humorously unglamorous name, is the time-honored competition among teams from respiratory therapy educational programs that have won their state’s Sputum Bowl contests to earn the right to compete on the national level. This event was held Nov. 5-8 in Nashville, TN, at the annual convention of the American Association of Respiratory Care (AARC).
Coached by respiratory care program director Michael Sheahan, CHC’s four-person team qualified for the national contest by winning its regional and then statewide competition to represent all respiratory care students in California in a field of teams from 21 states. Sheahan explained that the competition measures knowledge that extends beyond respiratory therapy theory and practice and includes anatomy, microbiology, and chemistry. Their high finish shows the educational quality of the College as a whole, not just the respiratory program.
Team members Luis Rebollar, Richard Sevilleno, Rajendra Pandey, and Alejandra Martinez held their heads up high in representing their program, CHC, and the state of California. Recognition of their knowledge lead to their being asked by another team to act as experts during the final round.
CHC’s respiratory care program now offers a bachelor’s degree in addition to its associate degree program.
