Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21)
Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-22) joined Palm Beach State College (PBSC) President Ava Parker and PBSC students to celebrate the opening of the college’s renovated Respiratory Clinical Lab—expanded through the $700,000 in federal funding secured by Rep. Frankel.
“Working people build our community, and Palm Beach State College’s students are training for some of the most essential jobs in our health care system,” said Rep. Frankel. “With this federal investment, this new respiratory clinical lab provides the opportunity for students to access the tools and hands-on experience they need to work hard and earn good wages while delivering life-saving care to our neighbors. When working people do well, our entire economy and community grow stronger.”
PBSC President Ava L. Parker, J.D., added, “Thanks to Congresswoman Frankel’s support, our students now have a state-of-the-art lab that gives them the real-world training that sets them apart in today’s competitive job market.”
PBSC’s 35-year-old Respiratory Care program—accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care—has had a 100 percent job placement rate for 25 years, preparing students for careers as Registered Respiratory Therapists. These workers operate ventilators, assess lung function, and provide critical treatments—skills that became even more vital during the COVID-19 pandemic, when PBSC stepped in to help supply local hospitals with equipment and trained personnel.
The newly expanded lab provides upgraded access to medical gas lines, ventilators, and specialized equipment, allowing the college to train more students in essential skills such as intubation, ventilator management, pulmonary testing, and neonatal and cardiac resuscitation.
To learn more about PBSC’s Respiratory Care program, click here.