Madison Reporter

Madison College, UW Health, and the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development have teamed up to introduce the nation's first respiratory therapist registered apprenticeship program. The initiative, set to begin this upcoming fall, aims to address the high demand for respiratory therapists while providing critical care to patients with respiratory conditions, including those affected by COVID-19.

Marissa Tokarczyk, interim dean for the School of Health Education at Madison College, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, "The School of Nursing is excited to continue its collaboration with UW Health in welcoming the second cohort of RN Apprenticeship students." She further added, "We are also excited and proud to launch the first respiratory therapist apprenticeship in partnership with them this upcoming fall."

The program, which spans over three years, is designed for UW Health staff members who can apply starting April 1. Upon completion, graduates will earn an associate degree and become licensed registered respiratory therapists after passing board examinations. The apprenticeship model not only supports incumbent workers who may face barriers to traditional higher education but also aims to diversify the healthcare workforce in Wisconsin.

In a statement, Tokarczyk highlighted the importance of academic and clinical partnerships in addressing workforce shortages, stating, "With workforce demand outpacing the supply of graduates, partnerships that support incumbent workers are essential to addressing shortages in our Wisconsin healthcare workforce."

The inaugural group of the respiratory therapy apprenticeship program will consist of five individuals. These apprentices will initially work as respiratory therapist assistants for the first 12 months, followed by transitioning to student respiratory therapists for the remaining 24 months. Madison College faculty will provide comprehensive classroom instruction, covering prerequisite coursework and core respiratory therapy-specific courses.

Upon successful completion of the program and passing the board examination, the apprentices will seamlessly transition into respiratory therapy positions at UW Health, contributing to the critical care needs of patients in the region.