Lakeland Community College students practice respiratory therapy in a clinical setting at MetroHealth. Jan Cevasco, Jaspreet Ahluwalia, Pat Niswender, , Preceptor Kathy Bauer, and Dustin Dornbrook are shown with the Cleveland Metro Life Flight. Following clinicals and one more year of study, students will begin their careers in respiratory therapy.

Respiratory Care is a rapidly growing licensed health care field. Respiratory Therapists work in a variety of clinical settings treating patients with heart and lung diseases. Therapists work as members of the health care team assessing patient status, administering respiratory medications, drawing and analyzing blood samples, and working with various types of life support equipment. 

Some of Lakeland's Respiratory Therapist program graduates have pursued the following career paths: cardiac and pulmonary stress testing in outpatient laboratories and in-hospital laboratories - intensive care: neonatal/pediatric, medical/surgical - respiratory care in area hospitals, subacute care facilities, and long term care facilities - medical school - nurse anesthetist - transport/emergency care team members - medical law - supervisory/management/administration - sales/marketing - clinical education - polysomnography (sleep study technician) - pulmonary rehabilitation - home care - vascular lab technology - organ transplant team members - pharmaceuticals - nurse practitioner