NE SciFest, respiratory care present ‘Breathe Easy’ event

The UNMC campus community is invited to the April 29 Nebraska Science Festival event, “Breathe Easy: Respiratory Therapists and the Evolution of a Profession,” presented by UNMC’s Master of Respiratory Care program. The event features the movie “Breathe,” starring Andrew Garfield, followed by a professional panel on ethics, quality, safety, patient-centered care and audience questions.

“Breathe Easy” runs from 6-9 p.m. at Film Streams’ Ruth Sokolof Theater, 1340 Mike Fahey St. in Omaha. Light refreshments will be provided, and admission is free for those who RSVP by email at this link by 4 p.m. today (April 25).

A host of medical professionals and those interested in the profession have been invited. But attendees don’t need to be familiar with respiratory therapy to enjoy the movie. “Breathe” tells the inspiring true-life love story about the husband-wife team (Garfield and Claire Foy from “The Crown”) featuring the first patient to go home on a respirator, whose innovation and advocacy transformed lives for those needing respiratory care. Watch the trailer here.

The event is a public celebration of the UNMC College of Allied Health Professions’ 15th professional program, respiratory care. UNMC’s respiratory care program has begun recruitment to enroll its first cohort of students in fall 2024 for both an “entry-level” master’s degree program and a degree-completion program for current respiratory therapists who want to obtain a master’s degree to practice their profession at its highest level in Nebraska.

Respiratory therapists are crucial members of the health care team whose work has become more recognized since the COVID-19 pandemic. UNMC’s newest allied health professional program will help meet workforce needs in Nebraska and nationwide and prepare current respiratory therapists to practice at a higher scope of their profession and take leadership roles within health care teams.

“Breathe Easy: Respiratory Therapists and the Evolution of a Profession” is sponsored by the UNMC College of Allied Health Professions and UNMC Department of Strategic Communications.