Respiratory Care Students Inducted into Prestigious Lambda Beta Society

Recently three Quinsigamond Community College respiratory care students, Megan Marie Hufault, Tracey Mannix and Federico Ortiz were inducted into the Lambda Beta Society, a prestigious national honor society sponsored and maintained by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). The students were chosen on the basis of high academic achievement, service, and strength of character. This is the first time QCC has had a chapter in the Lambda Beta Society.

Ms. Hufault came to QCC straight from high school and is currently in her last semester in the Respiratory Care program. Throughout her time at QCC she has earned many industry-recognized certificates such as Basic Life Support, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, and Pediatric Advanced Life Support. In April, she will become certified as an American Academy of Pediatrics Neonatal Resuscitation provider. She is currently in the process of completing her senior project, which is a requirement for each respiratory care student in their sophomore year. Her senior project is working as a lab assistant for the respiratory care freshmen class.  

“This is a very challenging program and I have worked hard to maintain a 3.96 GPA,” she said, adding that she was able to apply for her student license after her first year in QCC’s program and is currently employed by UMass Memorial Hospital as a student respiratory therapist. “I am proud of these accomplishments. The Respiratory Care program at QCC has provided me with the opportunity to be a caring, competent and accomplished health care professional.”

Ms. Mannix is a respiratory care student who came to the profession late in life after a 24 year career working in the telecommunications industry. She is also set to graduate this spring and embark on a new career.

“I chose respiratory care because of my personal experience with the profession. My grandmother was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. I went to Florida to make sure that she was receiving the proper care. Respiratory therapists came in every day to work with her,” she said. “I saw what amazing people they were and how important their job was. The respiratory therapists were instrumental in making sure that my grandmother was comfortable. At one point, one of the respiratory therapists asked me if I ever considered a career in respiratory care. I thought about it for a while and then decided it was not only what I wanted to do but…it was what I was meant to do.”

Today, like Ms. Hufault, she has earned a multitude of industry-recognized certificates and said this has been the "most rewarding undertaking I have ever accomplished.”  

Ms. Mannix is currently working in the Pulmonary Function Laboratory at UMass Hospital University campus for her senior project.

“I am very proud of the accomplishments that I have made at QCC. The Respiratory Care Program has allowed me to realize my goals. I look forward to beginning my career when I graduate in May,” she said.

The final respiratory care student inducted into the Lambda Beta Society is Mr. Ortiz, who is the first in his family to pursue a degree in the medical field.

“It has taken a considerable amount of hard work and dedication, but I can proudly say that I have maintained a 3.87 GPA. My educational achievements have allowed me to become a member of Phi Theta Kappa, Psi Beta, and Lambda Beta Honor Societies,” he said. “Last fall, I was awarded one of two scholarships presented to Quinsigamond Community College students by the Massachusetts Society of Respiratory Care. After this, I was offered a student respiratory therapist position at UMass Memorial Hospital.”

Mr. Ortiz said that for his required senior project, he has been able to mentor freshmen students entering the respiratory care program.

“This was a great opportunity as I was able to teach the skills I had mastered, mentor members of the freshmen class and share my tools for success. I feel as though my academic achievements, hands-on experience and classroom success at Quinsigamond Community College has not only built a great reputation for myself, but has also set a strong foundation for a bright future in the field of respiratory care," he said.

Visit QCC’s Respiratory Care program to learn more.