Respiratory care professor participates in accreditation process of only bachelor’s Respiratory Therapy program in Costa Rica

By Kate Hunger 

The only bachelor's program for respiratory therapy in Costa Rica was evaluated for accreditation this summer and a UT Health San Antonio School of Health Professions professors participated in the process. 

Ruben Restrepo, M.D., RRT, FAARC, professor of the Department of Respiratory Care, said it was an honor to be selected as part of a team to evaluate the program at Universidad Santa Paula in San Jose for possible accreditation. 

"We spent about a week reviewing about 350 files, clinical sites, talking to students, graduates and employers," he said of his June visit. 

Restrepo noted that the university sought the evaluation, which the team recommended for a period of four years. 

"They really wanted to, which is very commendable," he said. "They wanted to see where they stood. They really have what it takes to be accredited."

Restrepo said he hopes a student exchange program will be formalized between UT Health San Antonio and Universidad Santa Paula. Such a program would help, students from both universities learn about the practices and cultures of other, he said.