Advanced Respiratory Care

Associates of Applied Science in Respiratory Therapy

The fully accredited Associates of Applied Science in Respiratory Therapy is conducted in collaboration with Community College of Aurora (CCA). The General Education Component Must Be Completed (or evaluated) at CCA Prior to Enrolling at Pickens.

When completing the general education component, students must enroll as a Respiratory Therapy student at CCA.

For information contact the CCA Advising Department: 303-360-4700, https://www.ccaurora.edu/getting-started/pathways-advising. For more information contact SJ Casillas Student Affairs Advisor for the Health Pathway at Community College of Aurora.

SJ Casillas: Health Pathway Advisor
303-340-5213
SJ.Casillas@CCAurora.edu

Accreditation

Respiratory Care Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)

The Advanced Respiratory Care Program, 200431, Associates of Applied Science in Respiratory Therapy, 500 Airport Blvd. Aurora, CO 80011 is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.corarc.com)

CoARC accredits respiratory therapy education programs in the United States. To achieve this end, it utilizes an ‘outcomes based’ process. Programmatic outcomes are performance indicators that reflect the extent to which the educational goals of the program are achieved and by which program effectiveness is documented.

Programmatic Outcomes Data

Enrollment and Prerequisites

Enrollment in prerequisite coursework does not guarantee enrollment in the Respiratory Therapy Program.

Applicants must be physically able to exert up to twenty-five pounds of force to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Program attendance requires the ability to perceive attributes of objects such as size, shape, temperature, or texture by means of receptors in skin, particularly those in the fingertips. Must have the ability to discriminate and perceive differences in breath sounds and heart tones. Also, must be able to differentiate multiple skin and tissue colors. Students are required to complete a criminal background check prior to beginning clinical rotations. Applicants are required to have a high school diploma or G.E.D.

Prerequisites Are As Follows:

• MAT 107 Career Mathematics (MAT 121 preferred)
• ENG 121 English Composition
• PSY 101 General Psychology
• CHE 101 Introduction to Chemistry I with Lab
• BIO 201 Human Anatomy & Physiology I
• BIO 202 Human Anatomy & Physiology II
• BIO 204 Microbiology
• Completion of BIO 201 Anatomy and Physiology I with a passing grade (C or higher) before enrollment at Pickens Technical College

Prerequisite Rules:

• At CCA BIO 111 must be completed before students can enrolled in either BIO 201 or BIO 204
• At CCA, MAT 121 must be completed before students can enroll in BIO 111

Residency Requirement:

Students must take 19.5 credits at CCA regardless of prior course history. This is because CCA is the degree-granting institution for the Respiratory Therapy program, and 25% of courses must be taken at the degree-granting institution for a degree to be awarded. Ultimately, this means that students must take a minimum of 19.5 credits at CCA for the Respiratory Therapy program, regardless of whether they have prior credit for prerequisite coursework from another institution. This requirement is part of the articulated degree agreement that allows students to sit for the state exam. Please see your CCA advisor to review the courses you will need to take.

Enrollment process for the Respiratory Therapy program includes a personal interview. The personal interview will consist of reviewing the unofficial transcript, and a conversation with program faculty around knowledge of and motivation to become a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT). This is a selective process.

Program graduates also have the opportunity to continue their education at other institutions to earn their Bachelor degrees:

AAS to BS with Metro State University AAS to BAS in Respiratory Therapy

Leslie Morgan MIS, BHS-RRT

Program Director, Advanced Respiratory Care
303-344-4910 ext. 27924
LMorgan@aurorak12.org

Leslie has worked all areas of Respiratory Therapy including hyperbaric oxygen and flights with Air Life, at Presbyterian/St. Luke’s, Supervisor at Lutheran Medical Center, ER, critical care, and charge therapist at Swedish Medical Center, and as a Professional Research Assistant while completing thesis at University of Colorado School of Medicine.

• Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT)
• Basic Life Support (BLS)
• BLS Instructor
• Neonatal Resuscitation Provider (NRP)
• NRP Instructor
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
• Master of Integrated Sciences – Mathematics and Biology
• Bachelor of Health Science – Respiratory Therapy
• Associate of Science – Respiratory Therapy

Michael Cousins

Director of Clinical Education, Advanced Respiratory Care
303-344-4910 ext. 278734
mrcousins@aurorak12.org

Michael Cousins is a Registered Respiratory Therapist through the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC) and serves as the Director of Clinical Education/Instructor at Pickens Technical College.

Prior to the world of respiratory care and prior to his role at Pickens, Michael served in the corporate world for 13 years primarily in staff and executive leadership training & development at known organizations such as DirecTV, Sun Microsystems & Seagate Technology. In those organizations, he always served in a teaching/facilitator role.

In 2010 he embarked on a career change from Corporate America to Respiratory Care. During his 10-year career in Respiratory Therapy, he has worked at Children’s Hospital- Colorado, Post-Acute Medical (PAM), St. Joseph’s Hospital, UCHealth Anschutz & UCHealth Broomfield. Michael eventually moved from the bedside into a teaching position at Pima Medical Institute & from Pima, he moved into his current role at Pickens Technical College, where he received his respiratory therapy education and training.

Michael grew up in Toronto, Canada, and received his BA from York University, MA from Michigan State University, and AAS from the Community College of Aurora.