Careers in the medical field are hot right now and expected to stay that way due to the substantial growth in the number of the middle-aged and elderly population. At Lone Star College-Kingwood, students can easily train for a career in the medical field.

The college’s Evening Respiratory Care program allows students with jobs or children to benefit from a career change that can change their lives.

With a full time job and a young child at home, Krystal Patterson knows how challenging furthering your an education can be. Now in her second semester of the evening program, she says she’s been pleased with how flexible the program has been.

“I got into the program because some of my family has a history of respiratory problems. The instructors are very helpful. They have lots of field experience and really talk to you so you can understand, because it’s a new way of talking, a new vocabulary.”

Angela Barrera agrees, saying all the instructors are easy to talk to and have an open door policy with their students.

“I was going to apply to the nursing department, but Mr. Kenny McCowen, director of the respiratory care program, convinced me to try the respiratory program and I love it, I wouldn’t do anything else,” she says.

Respiratory therapists and respiratory therapy technicians, also known as respiratory care practitioners, evaluate, treat, and care for patients with breathing or other cardiopulmonary disorders. Respiratory specialists are employed in hospitals, physician’s offices, nursing homes and clinics.

Barrera explains why she enjoys the field, “The respiratory system is interesting and you specialize in one area of the body instead of the whole body.”

Following in her mother’s footsteps is what led Charlotte Burns to the respiratory program. Nineteen years ago her mother went through the program here at Lone Star College-Kingwood.

“My mom is an RT (respiratory therapist) in home health care and she went here (Lone Star College-Kingwood) nineteen years ago.”

“I like it. Each semester you go to a different clinical site so you can get a feel for what you like best,” she says, adding, “I haven’t decided what I want to specialize in yet.”

Barrera and Patterson both hope to work in pediatrics. Patterson would like specialize in neo-natal pediatrics and eventually become a Physician’s Assistant.

They all agree that the hours are one of the best parts about the program. All classes are held in the evening, allowing each student to continue with their normal daily lives.

To find out more about the evening respiratory care program and the admission requirements, call 281-312-1708. Applications are now being accepted for the program that begins in August 2008.