After graduation, I joined the COPD readmission prevention team because I wanted to be able to follow my patients beyond the ICU and into the outpatient setting. I’ve since received a master’s degree in public health administration and policy, and I have gotten to observe public health issues and health care delivery systems in other parts of the world and in the U.S.

Zanele Manaka, R.R.T., L.R.T.
2012 graduate who now works in readmission prevention at Mayo Clinic

I was hired in the same department where I interned during the summer between my junior and senior year. The training I received at Mayo Clinic made it easy for me to find a place in my career. Respiratory therapy is a very broad area of practice — the experiences I had in this program will help me find success anywhere I choose to go in the future.

Amy Lee Tran, R.R.T., C.R.T.
2018 graduate who now works in diagnostics labs at Mayo Clinic

The clinical portion of this program allows you to observe the many different careers and environments that respiratory therapists are a part of so that you can strive for a position that interests you. The clinical shift and rotation schedule also allows you to apply what you’re learning in class to real-life situations.

Tommy Koppelman, R.R.T., L.R.T.
2013 graduate who is now the academic coordinator for the Respiratory Care Program in the Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences

The Respiratory Care Program provided me with a strong clinical foundation and hands-on experience that directly prepared me for my current role. Learning arterial line placement and assisting with central line insertions helped me develop the technical skills, sterile technique, and confidence needed to transition into my role as a vascular access specialist at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. The program’s emphasis on critical thinking and patient safety continues to guide my practice every day.

Dennis Maslesa, R.R.T.
2022 graduate who now is a vascular access specialist at Mayo Clinic

The program provided me with a thorough understanding of critical care, allowing me to confidently manage acutely ill patients as a new grad. The extensive hands on experience and exposure to all types of patients helped me develop the skills needed to excel in high pressure situations. With a solid foundation in advanced clinical skills as a respiratory therapist, I was well prepared for perfusion school and the transition into my current role as a perfusionist.

McKenzie Bangasser, C.C.P.
2016 graduate who is now a pediatric perfusionist at Mayo Clinic

The Respiratory Care Program laid a strong academic foundation and reinforced it through labs, clinicals, and simulation in a supportive learning environment. These experiences strengthened my skills, confidence, and professionalism, preparing me to excel in my current role

Jayden Crimmins, R.R.T.
2022 graduate who now works in the sleep lab at Children's Minnesota and as an adjunct instructor