The Monroe County Community College Respiratory Program team has once again won the state title in the annual Michigan Sputum Bowl, a timed quiz competition similar to the game show "Jeopardy."
The MCCC team, comprised of final year RT students Evan Kureth, Austin Kraatz, and Joshua Wood, went undefeated against 16 other teams to take this year’s Spittoon trophy earlier this month. During the final round, MCCC's team took on Mott Community College (Flint, MI) in a very close match that went to a tie-breaker. Nearly every RT program in the state was represented by one or more teams in this intense competition. Last year, MCCC's team took second place, after two consecutive championships in 2019 and 2022.
This win qualifies the team to compete in November at the national level in the American Association for Respiratory Care’s (AARC’s) National Sputum Bowl held in Orlando, FL.
"The main objective of the Sputum Bowl is to stimulate interest in current respiratory care practices and professional engagement among respiratory care practitioners and students," said Dr. Helen Stripling, interim director of MCCC's Health Sciences Division and director of the Respiratory Therapy program.
According to the AARC website, "The Sputum Bowl has been a time-honored tradition at the AARC Congress since 1978. Uniquely “RT,” the Bowl is the number one place to test your respiratory care knowledge against the best of the best in the profession. Nowhere else will you find therapists cheering on teams from across the country as they race to answer questions on everything from aerosol delivery to arcane gas laws."
The MCCC team is advised Angela Prush, director of clinical education and instructor, and Kala Ford, RT instructor.
If anyone is interested in a career in Respiratory Therapy and would like to study in one of the most recognized programs in Michigan and the country, there are two more final RT Program Information Session scheduled for Thursday, May 2, 2024 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Registration for the information session is required and can be completed by visiting www.monroeccc.edu/events and selecting "Respiratory Therapy Career Information Sessions".
During the session, participants will learn about respiratory therapy careers, including job duties, employment outlook and classes needed to enter the program. Respiratory Therapy Program faculty will be available to answer questions.
Prospective students can also earn a point toward admission into the program by attending. The respiratory therapy program follows a selective admission process. The deadline for applying for the RT program at MCCC for the Fall 2024 semester is June 27, 2024. More information about the application process can be found at www.monroeccc.edu/rt.
About Monroe County Community College
Founded in 1964, Monroe County Community College is a public, two-year institution supported by tax monies from Monroe County, educational funds from the State of Michigan and student tuition. The college’s mission is to enrich and transform lives by providing opportunities and excellence in higher education. The Main Campus is located at 1555 South Raisinville Road, Monroe, Mich., 48161, with easy access to Toledo and Detroit. The Whitman Center is located at 7777 Lewis Ave.,Temperance, Mich., 48182, near the Ohio-Michigan Border. Detailed information about MCCC is available at www.monroeccc.edu.
Team Picture: Back row: Interim dean of Health Services and RT program director Helen Stripling, student Joshua Wood, student Austin Kraatz, student Evan Kureth. Front Row: Kayla Ford, RT instructor, and Angela Prush, director of Clinical Education
