GBC & Renown Health Launch Accelerated 18-month Respiratory Therapist Training Program in Elko, Winnemucca & Reno

Training respiratory therapists as part of a healthcare team to help diagnose, treat and manage conditions to help restore or maintain lung and breathing function. Applications due Oct. 31, 2024

(ELKO, NEV.) Great Basin College and Renown Health are partnering to bring the first Respiratory Therapy training program to educate new healthcare professionals to meet the growing needs of the community.

With the generosity of grant funders, the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust and the Health Resources and Services Administration, Great Basin College will launch the first and only available program of its kind in support of several rural northern Nevada communities. According to project leads, the program and the trained respiratory therapists will bring great value to the community and healthcare system.

“Great Basin College is thrilled to join forces with Renown Health to launch this new program and be a critical contributor to advancing the respiratory care profession for our community,” says Interim GBC President Dr. Amber Donnelli.

The program is an accelerated 18-month program resulting in an Associate of Applied Science in Cardio-Respiratory Care Science degree. It's incredibly high-tech, uses leading-edge training equipment, and provides real-world experience to students.

In-person classes will be offered at GBC campuses in Elko and Winnemucca and at Renown Health in Reno. Applications will open this June and are due October 31, 2024. The first program courses will begin in the Spring of 2025. There are very specific prerequisites for the program and students can visit the program page for more information.

“Investing in the training of new respiratory therapists is crucial to meeting Renown’s mission of providing essential services for our community,” says Brian Erling, MD, MBA, CEO & President, Renown Health. “These professionals help patients manage respiratory conditions and their expertise makes a difference in the lives of others. By equipping them with the latest knowledge and hands-on experience, we ensure that our patients receive the best possible care during their most crucial moments. Respiratory therapists are important members of the critical care team, which is why we are proud to partner with Great Basin College to establish the first training program for our region.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the “employment of respiratory therapists is projected to grow 13 percent from 2022 to 2032.” GBC sees the incredible potential for growth and has worked hard to bring this opportunity to Nevada’s health care workforce.

“This vital program will support our health care systems through innovative teaching strategies geared towards developing the highest caliber respiratory therapist,” says Jason Farnsworth, GBC Respiratory Therapy Program Director and Director of Respiratory Care Services at Renown Health.

The Associate of Applied Science Cardio-Respiratory Care Science program will be offered at Great Basin College at the Elko, Winnemucca, and Reno locations and is currently in the process of seeking CoARC accreditation for a respiratory care program. However Great Basin College can provide no assurance that accreditation will be granted by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) 264 Precision Blvd, Telford, TN 37690 (817) 283-2835. Accreditation is presumed to be finalized around November 2024.

Great Basin College, "The Gold Standard in the Silver State,” offers associate and baccalaureate level education in academic, career and technical fields. Welcoming over 4,000 students annually from all corners of the country, both online and at our various campuses and centers, GBC's presence extends across two time zones and spans more than 86,000 square miles throughout Nevada. A leader in rural higher education, GBC takes pride in developing students who are well-prepared to meet the demands of industry and who contribute to the success and prosperity of the local economy.

Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally governed, not-for-profit integrated health care network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe, and northern California. With a diverse workforce of more than 7,500 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination, and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. For more information, visit renown.org.

For More Information Contact

Great Basin College
1500 College Parkway
Elko, Nevada 89801

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Why Great Basin College

Great Basin College, "The Gold Standard in the Silver State", offers associate and baccalaureate level education in academic, career and technical fields. Welcoming over 4,000 students annually from all corners of the country, both online and at our various campuses and centers, GBC's presence extends across two time zones and spans more than 86,000 square miles throughout Nevada. A leader in rural higher education, GBC takes pride in developing students who are well-prepared to meet the demands of industry and who contribute to the success and prosperity of the local economy.