By Noel S. Tiburcio, PhD, RTRP, RRT-NPS

A teaching/learning center for Respiratory Therapy (RT) has been established in the Philippines to enhance the clinical exposure of RT students and interns in a controlled simulation environment. Philippine Respiratory Care Professionals, Inc. (PRCPI) is located in Marikina City and is designed to provide training, continuing professional education and life support services to the respiratory community. The future goal of PRCPI is to develop the first Clinical Simulation Training Center in the Philippines exclusive for Respiratory Therapy. Noel Tiburcio, PhD, RRT is founder and President and hopes that “the Center will provide a central, comprehensive focal point for collaboration with RT professionals and related government health officials in the Philippines”.

Dr. Tiburcio returned to the Philippines after 28 memorable and productive years of being a respiratory therapist working in the Middle East; 8 years in Saudi Arabia and 20 years in the United Arab Emirates. These two countries were both gracious and generous hosts over the years, where many special friendships were developed. Dr. Tiburcio has many wonderful memories about the two countries and values these important years of clinical experience and expertise in respiratory care which are now shared with professional RT colleagues, RT students and graduates in the Philippines. He wants to serve young and future RTs in the Philippines and to give something back to the profession that helped him provide for his family, and to fulfill his dream of becoming a worthy healthcare professional.

Overall, the center is designed to help improve the delivery and quality of respiratory care to patients in a safe and professional manner by providing review and preparation for the Philippine RT Board Examination, Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits, Life Support Courses such as BLS, PALS, ACLS and NRP Provider Courses. Ultimately, the Clinical Simulation Training Room will provide manikin-based clinical rotation for RT students and interns, post-graduate courses for RT graduates and training for RT faculty and Clinical Instructors.

Dr. Tiburcio feels blessed and proud to be a respiratory therapist. He also feels his return to his home country will provide him with the opportunity to more effectively represent the Philippines in the international respiratory care community and to serve as Governor for the Philippines to the International Council for Respiratory Care (ICRC).