Current Position: RRT at Penn Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Health System
Story Last Updated: Summer 2024
A graduate of Neshaminy High School, Ben originally heard of GMercyU from a cousin who was an alum. "After visiting, I felt like I had found my home away from home in GMercyU’s friendly students and faculty, as well as the personalized experience and class sizes at the University,” Ben said.
Life as a Griffin
“During my time at GMercyU, I made sure to get involved as much as I could,” Ben said.
He joined a number of organizations, including the Voices of Gwynedd, Student Government Association (SGA), and the Adventure Club.
He participated in Intramural sports and two Alternative Spring Breaks (ASB) with Campus Ministry. He also completed the Griffin Student Leadership Institute of Exceptional Leaders program.
Ben later became a Resident Assistant in the residence halls and served as a Griffin Ambassador where he gave tours to prospective students and their families. For the 2021-2022 school year, he earned the position of Treasurer for the Black Student Union.
The connections and relationships I made here allowed me, with their help, to make GMercyU the school I wanted it to be.
Experience in Respiratory Care
The small cohort was “just what I needed,” said Ben. He became close friends with each of his classmates and noted his “professors made coming to class a joy!”
“Long days of lectures were made possible with the help of the caring Respiratory Care faculty and, of course, lots of laughs,” Ben said.
For Ben, his time was made special by a number of faculty and staff members, including Michelle Murray, Ali Jabara Johnston, and his Respiratory Care instructors.
The faculty at GMercyU listen to students and know you well enough to not only know when you need help, but know how to help you.
Clinical Experience
Respiratory Care students are expected to complete roughly 1,000 hours of clinical time during their time in the program. Clinicals are two days per week, with an eight-week stint in the summer of sophomore year.
Ben had the opportunity to complete his rotations at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Leigh Valley Cedar Crest Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.
“Students are paired with a Respiratory Therapist and work hands-on to learn how to administer nebulizer treatments, manage ventilators, and give life-saving care to real patients,” Ben said.
Post-Graduation
Ben graduated from GMercyU in May 2022 and plans to start as a full-time Respiratory Therapist at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
GMercyU’s Respiratory Care program is one of, if not the top Respiratory Care programs in the state. This is the university for you if you enjoy small class sizes, a personalized education, and a caring environment and community.
