Owens Respiratory Students and Graduates are Winners

1999 Graduate Wins National Award

Keith Lamb of Pike Creek, a registered respiratory therapist, received an award at the 48th Annual International Respiratory Congress of the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) held on October 5 in Tampa, Florida. He is a 1999 graduate of the Respiratory Care program at Delaware Tech, Owens Campus.

Lamb was named Specialty Practitioner of the Year in the area of acute adult care. He works as a clinical supervisor in respiratory care for Christiana Care Health System. This was a great honor and one that I will never forget, said Lamb. The best thing about receiving this award is that it was presented by my colleagues. They're the people who know what it really means to be a health care professional and what kind of sacrifice and continuous desire to learn it takes to be successful.

This is a very significant award, because Keith was selected by a panel of his peers in a professional organization of 40,000-plus members, noted Jay Little, department chair for the Respiratory Care program at the Owens Campus. I think that reflects well on the quality of instruction that our graduates receive. The AARC focuses primarily on respiratory therapy education and research. Its goals are to ensure that respiratory patients receive safe and effective care from qualified professionals and to benefit respiratory health care providers.

The Class of 2000

Respiratory Care Students Top Others For First-Place Award

An engraved spittoon was the unusual trophy brought home recently by students in the Respiratory Care Technology program at Delaware Technical & Community College, Owens Campus.

Students won the spittoon and a cash prize for finishing first in the Sputum Bowl, an academic competition held as part of the Maryland/DC Society for Respiratory Care's annual symposium on cardiopulmonary science. The contest format is based on the former College Bowl TV series. Delaware Tech students competed against teams from the University of the District of Columbia, Salisbury State University, Allegheny Community College and Essex County Community College. Team members Kristen Coker, Keri Davidson, David Dixon, Beni Miller, Penny Ruhl-Hearn and Gail West won by a three-question margin over the Salisbury State team in the final round. Delaware Technical & Community College Respiratory Care Department Chairman Jay Little and instructor Amy Thomas were the team coaches.

"Our team did a great job, especially when you consider that Salisbury State has a bachelor's degree program while our students are studying for an associate degree," said Little. "This is a prestigious award to bring home, and I'm very proud of them."

The winners of the Sputum Bowl shown holding their trophy aloft are (l-r) Dixon, West, Miller, Ruhl-Hearn, Davidson, Coker, Thomas and Little.