Respiratory therapy, the newest medical program at Missouri Southern is seeing positive job placement results for graduates.

In 1995, respiratory therapy moved to Southern and brought about its associate’s degree program in 2000.

Glenda Pippin, respiratory therapy department head, said there is a 90 percent job placement rate for graduates.

“There are quite a few hospitals that come to Southern to recruit the upcoming graduates,” Pippin said.

In December 2003, there were 13 respiratory therapy students who graduated with an associate’s degree. The graduation times for these students occur in December and July.

“The students who graduate in July are the more advanced students who take 18 hours of upper division courses,” Pippin said.

Pippin takes vital steps to ensure the graduates have success in finding a job.

“We have a panel discussion, invite respiratory therapist from area hospitals to speak with the students at Southern and career services helps with job placement as well,” she said.

Pippin said hospitals directly contact her from time to time to see if there are students available for work.

In March 2004, Children’s Mercy Hospital of Kansas City will come to Southern to recruit students for jobs.

Other hospitals that recruit include Barnes-Jewish of St. Louis and Saint Francis of Tulsa.

Pippin said there are currently six graduates working in Tulsa, two in Mount Vernon, full-time, and two in Pittsburg, full-time.

Kim Lamb, a respiratory therapist, graduated from Southern in December 2003 and works full-time at the Missouri Rehabilitation Center in Mount Vernon and part-time at St. John’s Rehabilitation Center.

Lamb said a student is able work in Oklahoma with a student license, and starting pay, depending on the area, ranges from $11 to $16 an hour.

“Missouri Southern has one of the best respiratory therapy programs in the state,” Lamb said. “I’ve had University of Missouri-Columbia students follow my lead. It seems Southern students have more knowledge about what to do than any other area college graduates.”

Lamb said it seems awkward, because MU has more students than Southern.

Springfield and Tulsa hospitals told Lamb they prefer Southern students over MU and Southwest Missouri State University students because graduates from Missouri Southern are more knowledgeable.

“I just thinks it’s an excellent program at Southern,” Lamb said.

Pippin is currently taking applications for the fall semester.