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January  8, 2025: ,Paul Lowe,  MS, RRT,  and Program Director for the Respiratory Therapy Program at National Park College (NPC) passed away unexpectedly on Monday, January 6, 2025. I first met Paul when my husband, David Hulett and I were thinking about establishing scholarships for students in the RT program at NPC. That day, we talked for a couple of hours about the RT profession. It was instantly apparent that he loved teaching, and that he was a strong mentor for his students. If one of them failed, Paul felt he had failed – and he did everything he could to turn the students’ missteps into big steps toward success in respiratory therapy. “PLowe”, as his students called him, served on the Board for the Lawrence Respiratory Therapy Foundation from the beginning, always helpful, positive, and hard-working for the “cause.”     We don’t know why he left us too soon, but we do know this: He would want us to continue to work hard, as he had, to support the students and the profession we both loved. My heart is heavy, but I know his heart was full of joy, and he loved life. And that is the important thing.     

Gretchen Lawrence, President: Lawrence Respiratory Foundation

The Lawrence Respiratory Foundation was created to award an educational scholarship to a senior student in the Respiratory Therapy program at National Park College in Hot Springs, AR.  The Professional Achievement in Respiratory Care (PARC) scholarship was the brainchild of Gretchen Lawrence, BA, RRT, FAARC, who had a diverse and rewarding career in respiratory care.   It is her desire to support and mentor aspiring respiratory therapists in our community.   

Respiratory therapists (also called respiratory care practitioners) are important members of the health care team. They work under the medical direction of doctors to treat all types of patients, ranging from premature infants whose lungs are not fully developed to elderly people with lung disease. They provide care to patients with chronic asthma or emphysema, as well as emergency and intensive care to patients with a wide range of serious health issues.

Respiratory care is a professionally and personally rewarding career with a balanced blend of technology and patient interaction.

Characteristics of Successful Respiratory Therapists

  • Compassion: Respiratory therapists should be able to provide emotional support to patients who are undergoing treatments for serious and often life-threatening diseases.
  •  Critical thinking skills: Respiratory therapists must be able to quickly solve problems, particularly in trauma or emergency situations. The ability to think critically to provide the medical team with rapid and accurate assessments, and provide patients with the appropriate treatment is crucial.
  • Excellent communication skills: Because respiratory therapists spend much of their time communicating with members of the medical team, patients and/or their families, the ability to communicate well is important.

  • Organized and meticulous: Respiratory therapists must maintain, use, and manage many types of equipment and administer many types of medications; therefore, successful respiratory therapists are detail-oriented, organized, meticulous, and thorough, ensuring that patients receive the appropriate treatments at all times.

The Lawrence Respiratory Foundation is an all-volunteer organization with 100% of all donations going directly into the PARC scholarship.