May 30, 2024
Hannah Sponsel decided to attend Shawnee State University to pursue her dream of a career in Respiratory Therapy. The Middletown, Ohio native graduated with her degree this semester.
“I wanted to be in health care,” she said, mentioning that her mother was a certified registered nurse anesthetist. ““I have always admired my mother’s ability to operate ventilators and her ability to intubate difficult airways. Breathing is critical to life and I want to help people with respiratory diseases to breathe easier.”
Also a member of the women’s soccer team, Sponsel chose to attend SSU because she was drawn to the small class sizes and the ability to get to know her classmates and professors well.
“Being part of a small school is an advantage because you get to be more personal with your professors,” she said. “That will help you in the long run.”
Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Therapy, SSU’s program offers students a hands-on experience through clinical and laboratory settings. Students learn to care for patients of all ages experiencing different breathing problems such as asthma and COPD. Graduates of the program have found work in hospitals, private practice facilities, sleep disorder centers, health care research institutions, home health care agencies, and retirement centers, among many other employers.
“I enjoy learning how the respiratory system works, learning about ventilators, learning how to critically think, learning how to intubate, and learning how to interpret blood gases,” Sponsel said. “I am looking forward to gaining hands-on experience with ventilators.”
Spsonsel also qualified for a Choose Ohio First scholarship – a scholarship assisting SSU students pursuing STEM education. The program is part of a statewide strategy to increase STEM talent throughout the state of Ohio.
“The financial support has significantly contributed to covering my college tuition,” she said. “I am extremely grateful for this valuable opportunity.”
To learn more about the Respiratory Therapy program at Shawnee State University, visit shawnee.edu/respiratory-therapy.