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Monument Health’s Respiratory Care program is offering scholarships and sign-on bonuses, which are available to students in the ��«Ӱҵ Respiratory Care program. All students in the program are now eligible to receive the Respiratory Therapist Scholarship, with up to $40,000 in awards. Also available are sign-on bonuses of up to $25,000.

The Respiratory Care program at SDSU is growing and Monument Health’s scholarship program and sign-on bonuses help SDSU respiratory care students gain education and experience with less financial pressure. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted a need for more respiratory therapists in South Dakota and SDSU’s respiratory care program is working hard to meet this need by educating students to be successful respiratory therapists. Lacy Patnoe, director of the Respiratory Care program at SDSU, said that “students and respiratory care workers are needed and opportunities like these are important for students.”

According to Dr. Sharrel Pinto, head of the Allied and Population Health Department which houses the respiratory care program, “We have a great collaborative partnership with Monument Health and are fortunate to grow this relationship further to offer support to our students.

 In today’s day and age, when most students pursuing a college degree are burdened financially and stretched with student loans only to have to wait for jobs, our respiratory care students are guaranteed both during the first day of classes. Not many programs and professions could offer this opportunity to their students on day one. Monument’s commitment is an excellent example of our collaboration and reiterates their belief in the high quality respiratory therapists we graduate.”

The respiratory care program at SDSU offers two degrees, an associate and a baccalaureate, and students can complete the program in either Sioux Falls or Rapid City. Students in the program have the benefit of learning from respiratory care professionals and gaining hands-on experience while completing their degree. The various resources and connections made available to students and the program staff’s experience and expertise contribute to the 100% job placement rate of SDSU’s respiratory care program.

At Monument Health, more than 60% of the Rapid City Respiratory Care department is made up of SDSU graduates, according to Angie Haugen, director of Respiratory Care. Many of SDSU’s respiratory care students receive education and experience at Monument Health facilities while completing their education and internships, and many of them end up staying through the connections they’ve built while enrolled at SDSU.

Haugen said that “health care often involves a multidisciplinary approach, and our respiratory therapists work in a collaborative environment.” Monument Health respiratory therapists work side by side with physicians, providers, nurses, pharmacists, and other respiratory care workers and caregivers to provide the best patient care possible. “Our vision is to be one team, to listen and to show we care,” said Haugen. “Our entire team at Monument Health is grateful for our respiratory therapists for helping our patients breathe a little easier.”

The Respiratory Therapist Scholarship Program offers up to $25,000 in awards. Eligible applicants include students enrolled at an accredited program, like the SDSU respiratory care program, and must make a commitment of three years to working in a Monument Health identified department. Applications for the 2022-2023 academic year closed on June 14.

For SDSU students, sign-on bonuses are available to student interns and upcoming student graduates, as well as experienced respiratory therapists. Monument Health provides multiple sign-on bonus options, with bonuses up to $25,000.

To for respiratory therapists and respiratory therapy students.

To learn more about SDSU’s Respiratory Care program.