Respiratory Care Team Leader
Parkland Health & Hospital System

“I had been taking basic classes at DCCCD for a couple of years and was interested in doing something in the medical field. I had a few relatives who developed some respiratory problems, and I became interested in the Respiratory Care program.

“I enjoyed the variety of campuses, the large number of classes and times that were available, and the dedication and quality of the instructors at DCCCD. The two degrees and knowledge that I acquired at DCCCD have helped me give quality care to patients as a respiratory therapist and move forward in my career, and prepared me for the challenges of going even further with my education.

“The thing I learned the most from my DCCCD education was that with hard work, dedication and the right motivation, the world is wide open as far as what can be achieved. I would like to thank Kande Darilek and Gary Peschka for guiding me through my experiences, giving me the tools I need to succeed and helping me become the person I am today.

“I would recommend the Respiratory Care program at El Centro College to anyone who wants a challenging and fulfilling education that you can benefit from the rest of your life.”

Curtis Carey attended El Centro, Eastfield and Richland colleges, earning an Associate in Applied Sciences degree in Respiratory Care at El Centro College in 1999 and another associate degree from El Centro College. He is working on a bachelor’s degree in respiratory care from Midwestern State University.

In his current job as a respiratory care team leader at Parkland Hospital, he manages and guides therapists in their daily work and helps to meet the challenges of care for critical patients in a variety of areas including the emergency, medical, cardiac, burn, surgical and neonatal intensive care areas.