UNCW Respiratory Therapy Students Join Honor Society

The College of Health and Human Services proudly recognizes Jaileen Castillo-Velazco, Dalia Erazo, Alexa Dorsey, Rainey Fish, Samantha Kulaga, Saige Marshall, Carolina Weber, and Leslie Young for their outstanding achievements in the respiratory therapy program and their admittance to Lambda Beta Society, the national honor society for respiratory care. This prestigious honor is a testament to their dedication, academic excellence, and commitment to advancing the field of respiratory therapy.

The Lambda Beta Society, established in 1986 by American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC), the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC), American Respiratory Care Foundation (ARCF), and the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC), serves to promote, recognize, and honor academic achievement and leadership in respiratory care. To qualify for membership, a respiratory care student must have completed 50% of their respiratory care courses and hold a GPA that ranks in the top 25 percent of the respiratory class or have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5. The individual must be of good character and be nominated by faculty or chapter officers from a Lambda Beta chapter.

“I’m incredibly proud of our respiratory therapy students for the recognition from the Lambda Beta Society,” said Jamy Chulak, respiratory therapy program coordinator and clinical associate professor in the School of Health and Applied Human Sciences. ““This achievement is a testament to their dedication, hard work, and commitment. Their success is a source of pride for our program, our university, and the entire respiratory therapy community.”

Induction into the Lambda Beta Society is an acknowledgment of a student's potential to lead and innovate in the evolving field of respiratory care. As members, these students gain access to a network of like-minded professionals, opportunities for professional development, and the distinction of belonging to an elite group committed to excellence in patient care and respiratory therapy advancement.

“At UNCW, these new candidates have shown remarkable perseverance in mastering the complexities of respiratory therapy,” Chulak said. “Through rigorous coursework, hands-on clinical training, and research initiatives, they have not only met but exceeded the standards set forth by the profession. Their dedication ensures they will become compassionate and highly skilled respiratory therapists, ready to make a profound impact on patients' lives.”