“We are delighted to collaborate with Kent State and provide a unique opportunity for training in respiratory care... The respiratory therapy department at the Cleveland Clinic’s Main Campus is fully invested in the success of Kent State-Cleveland Clinic respiratory therapy students.” - Dr. Umur Hatipoğlu
In the heart of one of the world’s leading healthcare systems, a unique partnership is helping address a critical shortage in the medical field by offering career pathways to underemployed workers and aspiring respiratory therapists.
The Associate of Applied Science in Respiratory Therapy program offered by Kent State University at Ashtabula – now in full swing at the Cleveland Clinic – graduated its first cohort in December while entering its third cohort in January with promising momentum. Amy Rodenhausen, M.Ed., RRT, program director, said the initiative is becoming a vital pipeline for training and placing skilled respiratory therapists where they are most needed.
“This is such a unique program,” Rodenhausen shared. “We’re giving people a path to advance their careers and help fill a very real workforce need.”
A Pipeline for Undiscovered Talent
The Kent State Ashtabula respiratory therapy program expanded into the Cleveland Clinic system in 2023 with the goal of attracting students from within the healthcare giant’s employee base. Many enrollees are coming from entry-level roles such as patient care technicians, unit secretaries and lab techs – individuals Rodenhausen defined as “underemployed.”
“They’re looking at this as a steppingstone,” she said. “The Clinic hoped we could reach those underutilized employees and help them move up.”
The effort has proven fruitful. Among the students, Rodenhausen recalls a standout who enrolled in the Ashtabula program a decade ago but withdrew. Years later, working as an equipment tech at the Clinic and encouraged by a family member who happened to be a respiratory therapist, she returned to complete her degree. Not only did she graduate, but she also earned the program’s highest-ever board exam score.
“Students have exposure to a wide variety of clinical experiences provided at a world class institution, as well as access to clinical scholars dedicated to teaching. The program offers online options for education and flexible scheduling for working individuals,” he explained. “The respiratory therapy department at the Cleveland Clinic’s Main Campus is fully invested in the success of Kent State-Cleveland Clinic respiratory therapy students.”
“Working with students in the Kent State–Cleveland Clinic respiratory therapy program has been nothing short of inspiring,” added Megan Alicea, MET, RRT, lecturer and satellite coordinator for the Cleveland Clinic program. “We’re challenging students to think critically and to master both the art and science of respiratory care as they develop into compassionate caregivers and, through this partnership with Cleveland Clinic, they step directly into world-class clinical settings where they apply what they’ve learned, grow in confidence and witness the real-world impact of their care.”
Collaboration is mutually beneficial. While the Cleveland Clinic provides students with free clinical rotations, it also gains a stream of job-ready graduates. “They’ve been very happy,” Rodenhausen said. “Many students start as equipment techs, transition to limited permit holders and eventually become full-time respiratory therapists.”
“We are delighted to collaborate with Kent State and provide a unique opportunity for training in respiratory care,” said Umur Hatipoğlu, MD, MBA, Enterprise Medical Director of Respiratory Therapy, Section Head of Respiratory Therapy, Department of Critical Care Medicine and Director, COPD Center at Cleveland Clinic.
“Students have exposure to a wide variety of clinical experiences provided at a world class institution, as well as access to clinical scholars dedicated to teaching. The program offers online options for education and flexible scheduling for working individuals,” he explained. “The respiratory therapy department at the Cleveland Clinic’s Main Campus is fully invested in the success of Kent State-Cleveland Clinic respiratory therapy students.”
The students are aware of the uniqueness and the benefits of having one of the top hospital systems and world-class facilities as their classroom and, therefore; take advantage of the quality education and top-notch instruction, as well as the career prep they are receiving.
“The combination of classroom instruction, lab simulations and hands-on clinical experience offered through this program will prepare me to serve patients effectively and confidently in any healthcare setting as a respiratory therapist,” said first-year student Josh Qian, a respiratory support technician originally from Southeast Michigan. “The faculty members all bring extensive clinical experience to the classroom, offering students a practical, real-world perspective that enhances learning and builds clinical confidence. Their passion for teaching and strong commitment to student success really creates a supportive learning environment.”
Addressing Challenges and Growing Forward
While the program's enrollment and visibility continue to grow -- especially through the Clinic’s internal channels – like others across the country, has encountered challenges with enrollment.
"While the pandemic helped raise some awareness of respiratory therapy as a profession, many still don’t realize it is a wonderful career option," said Rodenhausen. "Since the addition of the Cleveland Clinic location, the program has seen an increase in the number of students enrolling and we hope this continue as awareness grows and this site gains popularity."
Meanwhile, the program is also aligning with the Cleveland Clinic’s Howley ASPIRE program, aimed at guiding local high school students into medical careers. While the first cohort was small, a second, much larger group is already on the horizon. Rodenhausen is optimistic: “It will be a fantastic pipeline as the program grows.”
Innovation Born from Necessity
During its initial decade-plus of existence, the program offered strictly an in-person curriculum at the Ashtabula Campus but, during the pandemic, it adapted quickly to a hybrid delivery model, a format that now helps connect Kent State faculty with students based in Cleveland. While the logistics of running a second site are complex, Rodenhausen calls it a “good challenge.”
“We’ve been able to enroll more students and increase awareness,” she said. “In some ways, it was a natural fit with our hybrid model. Megan has been teaching classes in Canvas as well as live on Microsoft Teams for a few years now. It’s just that those students are all based out of Cleveland now. The draw from Cleveland Clinic is really helping our numbers and it’s been a good partnership.”
She noted that, recently, students from outside the Clinic’s staff are enrolling in the program as it becomes more established, reaching beyond Cuyahoga County into Lake County and down to Akron.
And, while the initial cohorts skewed toward nontraditional-aged students, the third cohort has a few students hitting a younger demographic. Rodenhausen is also seeing similar trends during the current information/recruitment sessions for the next cohorts at both the Clinic and Ashtabula Campus program sites.
Looking ahead, Rodenhausen, Alicea and their team hope to see not only expanded enrollment, but also stronger support for students to transition from an associate degree program to Kent State’s 100% online bachelor’s degree program – an important next step in professional advancement.
“This partnership has opened new doors – not only expanding access to advanced training, but also fostering hands-on clinical experiences with one of the nation’s leading healthcare systems,” Alicea said. “Together, we're shaping a new generation of respiratory therapists who are clinically excellent, deeply compassionate and ready to lead the future of respiratory care.”
For now, the mission is clear: train, empower and place respiratory therapists where they are needed most. Thanks to a collaborative vision and a committed partner in Cleveland Clinic, the program is breathing new life into healthcare education – one student at a time.
For more information about the Respiratory Therapy Program at Cleveland Clinic, visit www.kent.edu/ashtabula/health-degrees/clinic.