Higher Ed Utah

The relationship and the development of a Chinese collaborative relationship by Weber State University (WSU), Dumke College of Health Profession’s Respiratory Therapy (RT) Department started in the Summer 2007 when professors Lisa Trujillo and Janelle Gardiner traveled to Xi’an Medical University. They were to provide a six day lecture series on the clinical applications of respiratory care for 80 nurses and physicians.  The purpose of the lecture series was to introduce the profession of respiratory therapy in China, currently not a recognized health care profession in that country.

In Fall 2009, three Chinese faculty from Nursing, Pharmacology and Medical English traveled to WSU and spent four months learning about the curriculum and program structure of the Respiratory Therapy Department. As these faculty returned to Xi’an, they were equipped with knowledge and materials to start the first RT program in Xi’an and maybe the second in all of China.

Consequently, in Spring 2010, Dr. Paul Eberle, Chair of the RT Department at WSU and Professor Trujillo traveled to China to provide additional lectures at the Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Medical University. Dr. Eberle and Ms. Trujillo visited Xi’an Medical University to meet with their administration and the first respiratory therapy class of 70 students.

As the relationship developed further, Dr. Wang and Dr. Chen were invited to WSU to participate in RT education for the purpose of taking their knowledge back to their hospital to develop a hospital-based respiratory therapy department.  Dr. Song joined his two Chinese colleagues at WSU to participate in RT education on campus and spent seven months shadowing physicians and respiratory therapists in several Utah hospitals. More…