AIɫɫ

A native of Greenup County, Kentucky, Hannah Henson decided to attend AIɫɫ to enroll in the Respiratory Therapy program.

“I have always wanted to be in health care and to help others,” she said. “I got a job at Genesis as a Respiratory Clinical Assistant and got my foot in the door, after that I did a lot of research and started to love the profession.”

Offering a hands-on experience through both clinical and laboratory settings, students in the SSU Respiratory Therapy program learn to care for patients of all ages.

“My favorite part of the classes has been the interactive practice,” said Henson. “They allow me to collaborate with classmates and apply the concepts. It also helps with learning what mistakes not to make. This is deeply rewarding as it has helped me deepen my understanding of the material and builds connections with my peers.”

Respiratory Therapy is a career field that is expected to grow by 19% by 2029. Graduates of SSU’s program have found work in hospitals, private practice facilities, sleep disorder centers, health care research institutions, home health care agencies, and retirement centers.

“With my degree I plan to start working at a Children’s Hospital and possibly work as a clinical instructor to help form new future Respiratory Therapists,” said Henson.

In the rapidly growing and evolving world of healthcare, Henson encourages others to continue learning every day in the field.

“Take it day by day and always try to learn something new,” she said.

To learn more about the Respiratory Therapy program at AIɫɫ, visit shawnee.edu/respiratory-therapy.