Second Breath
After 17 years in construction as a union ironworker, Aaron Imhoffs body was beaten down, his business struggling a casualty of the 2008 Great Recession. He needed to start over. While weighing his options for a second career, Imhoff realized he already possessed hidden interest in a growing field.
I was always the one in my family who volunteered to go to hospice, or to visit family members when they were sick, Imhoff says. When I started looking for a new career, it was all about demand, and respiratory care is one of the most needed areas right now in healthcare. Respiratory care therapists work with patients suffering with chronic respiratory disease, such as asthma or emphysema, and provide emergency care to those experiencing heart attack, drowning or shock.
In 2012, Imhoffs decision led him to UC Clermont, which the Loveland resident says he chose because of the colleges close location, small class sizes and one-on-one access to professors all available while still benefitting from UCs reputation for excellent healthcare education. I was impressed by the whole experience. I got help from The Learning Center, and the professors had time to answer my questions, Imhoff says. To compare, my anatomy and physiology class which is a required class for anyone studying healthcare had about 25 students. The same class on Main Campus can have up to 400.
Imhoff says the smaller class sizes help to create a close-knit feel among the students and instructors in the Respiratory Care program. Our entire class has been a life raft, hanging together trying to get through the program, which is no joke, says Imhoff, adding that program instructors Mike Mullarkey and Jodi Kaminski build direct relationships with the students. We have the same professors for the duration of the program, so you become close with them.
After graduation this spring, Imhoff will be eligible to take his boards and become a registered respiratory care therapist. But he is already working directly with patients, both through the UC Clermont program he and his classmates have received clinical training in nearly a dozen different area hospitals and through his student position at Mercy West Hospital, where he gains hands-on experience by working alongside other therapists.
Imhoff also plans to continue his education online through UC to earn his bachelors degree while working full time. He encourages others thinking about returning to school to consider UC Clermont first and not to limit themselves. When you get at a certain age, you think you can't learn anymore, and that's not true, Imhoff says. You should never stop learning. Ive met students who were 60 years old, and some still in high school, and we are all in the same boat. Younger students will look to you for advice, especially if you're successful. There is a camaraderie among everyone.
Additional Contacts
Tags
Related Stories
UC Clermont students return to Mexico to provide medical care
July 9, 2024
This spring, five students from the University of Cincinnati Clermont College landed in Mexico — ready to make a difference.
UC Clermont baseball team wins second national title
May 23, 2024
The University of Cincinnati Clermont College men’s baseball team has taken first place in the 2024 United States Collegiate Athletic Association Small College World Series. The Cougars defeated four-time national champion Penn State Dubois to claim the program’s second title and first since 2013.
UC Clermont welcomes students from 50 states as programs,...
May 20, 2024
The University of Cincinnati Clermont College now boasts students from all 50 states in the United States and overseas, thanks to a growing slate of online programs and innovative in-person and hybrid offerings.