Proudly holding her gold medal award, Carmen Rodd stands with her father Peter Rodd (right) and Ray Hubble, President of the Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists at the Society’s convention.

Two of Thompson Rivers University’s Respiratory Therapy students have taken the top honours for the Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapist (CSRT) certification examination.

Carmen Rodd, is the Gold Medal Award winner while Kyle O’Scienny has taken the Silver Medal Award. These medals were presented at society’s annual convention last week in Saskatoon. The awards are given to the individuals who obtain the highest ranking and second highest ranking respectively in the country on the CSRT certification examination.
Rodd, who graduated in 2007 and works at Vancouver General Hospital said it is an understatement to say she was pleasantly surprised. “You name it, we crammed it – from intricately complex baby cardiac operations to understanding the basic but difficult theory behind ventilation (for babies, children, adults “sick or healthy) and the machines that deliver it. We memorize trade and generic names of more than a hundred drugs and all the pharmacology “the distribution, interaction and elimination behind them. Not to mention ethics “preparing for the emotional onslaught of a patient passing away.”

RT Program chair Dave Sheets is pleased with Rodd’s and O’scienny’s achievement, but not surprised. “Our students’ average mark for the exam is 13 per cent higher than the average score of all students in the country,” he said. Nearly 400 students, 48 from TRU, wrote the January exam, students received the results by mail in April and were presented the medals last week.

“That TRU’s program took the one and two spots in country is pretty impressive,” said O’scienny who has been working at Royal Columbian Hospital since he graduated in 2007. “Those results speak volumes about the program.”
Both grads attribute their success, and the success of so many others from the program to the faculty, many of whom have worked and still work as RRTs.

O’scienny, who had transferred his previous post-secondary credits to TRU said, “The program was some of the best university experience I’ve ever had. I highly recommend it, the way it was put together made the learning experience excellent.”

Successful completion of the CSRT National Certification Examination is a requirement for individual registration in the Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists that licenses the nation’s health practitioners.

For more information contact:

• Dave Sheets, Chair Respiratory Therapy (p)828-5465