Mercyhurst, UPMC partnership supports return of Respiratory Therapy program
Collaboration strengthens local pathway to in-demand health care careers and supports regional workforce needs.
Mercyhurst University announced Friday, Aug. 14, that it will reinstate its Respiratory Therapy program through a new partnership with UPMC, preserving an important local pathway into a health care profession facing significant allied health workforce demand across the region.
The partnership brings together Mercyhurst’s established Respiratory Therapy program, faculty expertise, and health sciences education with UPMC Hamot’s role as a leading regional health care provider and employer. Together, the organizations are working to strengthen the pipeline of respiratory therapy professionals serving Erie and the broader region.
“Respiratory therapists play an essential role in patient care, and our region needs talented professionals entering this field,” said David J. Livingston, Ph.D., president of Mercyhurst University. “This partnership allows Mercyhurst to continue doing what it does exceptionally well—educating students through strong academic programs and outstanding faculty—while responding directly to an important workforce need in our community. We are grateful to UPMC for its partnership and its shared commitment to the future of health care in this region.”
Mercyhurst announced earlier this year that Respiratory Therapy would be among the academic programs discontinued by the university. In the months that followed, continued conversations between Mercyhurst and UPMC focused specifically on the importance of respiratory therapy to the region and on preserving an established local pathway into the profession.
Building on the longstanding relationship between the two organizations, those discussions resulted in a new partnership that supports the continuation of Respiratory Therapy at Mercyhurst.
For UPMC, maintaining a strong local education pipeline is particularly important in a profession where recruiting and retaining qualified health care professionals remains a significant challenge and an important priority.
“Respiratory therapists are vital members of the care team, caring for some of our most complex and critically ill patients across the hospital,” said April Murphy, chief nursing officer and vice president, Patient Care Services, UPMC Hamot. “As the demand for health care services continues to grow, developing and retaining skilled allied health professionals is more important than ever. This partnership helps ensure students can receive an excellent education close to home while creating pathways into meaningful careers serving our region. We're proud to continue our longstanding relationship with Mercyhurst and to welcome graduates into rewarding careers at UPMC.”
Respiratory therapists provide specialized care to patients with breathing and cardiopulmonary conditions and work across a wide range of clinical settings, including emergency departments, intensive care units, neonatal care, pulmonary rehabilitation, and diagnostics.
“Respiratory therapy is a highly specialized profession with opportunities to work in critical care, emergency medicine, neonatal care, pulmonary diagnostics, and many other clinical settings,” said Kasey Moore, director of Respiratory Therapy Services at UPMC Hamot. “UPMC has expanded career ladder opportunities for respiratory therapists, including expert-level advancement pathways for clinicians who want to continue growing at the bedside. Maintaining a strong local pipeline through Mercyhurst helps ensure we can continue providing exceptional care to patients throughout our region.”
For Maria Galletta, a recent Mercyhurst graduate now employed at UPMC Hamot as a respiratory therapist, that pathway has already become a reality.
“Mercyhurst gave me a strong foundation and hands-on experience that prepared me to begin my career with confidence,” said Galletta. “Through my clinical rotations and internship experiences at UPMC, I was able to learn from incredible respiratory therapists, work in different care settings, and see the many opportunities available across the system. Being able to graduate, stay in this community, and begin my career at UPMC Hamot has been incredibly rewarding. My experience at UPMC showed me that there are opportunities to keep learning and growing while making a difference for people close to home.”
UPMC supports respiratory therapists at every stage of their careers, including tuition assistance for eligible employees pursuing their education, opportunities for advancement, and competitive compensation. Recent enhancements include increased wages for respiratory therapists across the organization and sign-on bonuses of up to $20,000 for new eligible therapists. The enhancements reflect UPMC’s commitment to respiratory therapists and recognition of their essential role in high-quality patient care.
Mercyhurst is accepting students into the Respiratory Therapy program for Fall 2026 and is actively recruiting future classes for 2027 and beyond.
The renewed program also builds upon Mercyhurst’s continued growth in health sciences, education, and its broader commitment to connecting academic opportunities with student interests, professional pathways, and significant workforce needs.
Livingston said partnerships between higher education and employers will become increasingly important as universities work to prepare students for professions where communities face shortages of qualified workers.
“Higher education has an important role to play in preparing the nurses, teachers, health care professionals, and other skilled graduates our communities need,” Livingston said. “This is a strong example of what can happen when education and industry work together around a shared need. It creates opportunities for students, strengthens the workforce, and ultimately benefits the people and communities we both serve.”
Students interested in Mercyhurst’s Respiratory Therapy program can learn more at https://www.mercyhurst.edu/academics/respiratory-therapist or visit https://www.mercyhurst.edu/admissions to connect with the Office of Admissions.