Megan Koster, department chair and clinical professor in the Department of Respiratory Care, received the 2024 Louis Sinopoli Faculty Educational Research Scholarship. The Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care selects the award recipient based on investigative research by an accredited faculty member that supports the respiratory care profession in education or credentialing.
Her research identifies the tangible benefits of obtaining a graduate-level degree in respiratory care. It is among the first of its kind that documents a financial benefit, as well as additional advancement opportunities experienced by alumni of master’s level degree advancement programs. Koster explains that several barriers may prevent a practitioner from pursuing a master’s degree. Time, money and a viewed lack of advancement opportunities are just a few examples of what is holding people back.
“This project sought to identify recognizable benefits of obtaining a master’s degree in respiratory care, namely to work to measure the financial benefit of doing so,” Koster explained.
Through research, Koster and her co-authors found supporting evidence that demonstrates not only professional service within respiratory care but positive contributions to patient outcomes. Boise State’s respiratory care master’s program will benefit from the research.
Koster reflects, “As the largest respiratory care department in the world, our profession needs the Go Bronchi team to help build the path forward. We have an amazing network of faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends who help to make our programming among the best in the nation. It was incredibly rewarding to be able to work with other respiratory care program directors to collect substantial evidence of what we’ve known anecdotally all along – advancing your education is a solid investment.”
“Every year, I am in awe of our master program students,” she added. “These are the leaders of the profession and they’re doing some amazing things within the field. It’s been rewarding to help them develop the skills they need to excel.”
Kristen McHenry, Master of Science in Respiratory Care program director at Boise State stated, “Dr. Koster has mentored graduate students since the inception of the program in 2018 and continues to nurture their development in research and advanced clinical practice. She is overwhelmingly deserving of this award. Our three respiratory care programs at Boise State are blessed with her leadership.”
Koster is honored to be recognized for her efforts in conducting education-based research within respiratory care.
“I want to thank the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care for supporting respiratory care education research, as it’s such a valuable piece of moving the profession forward. I also want to thank my co-authors, my Go Bronchi team, and the other program directors who helped this project come to fruition. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for all of the support.”
Boise State has three respiratory care programs: On Campus Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care Program, Registered Respiratory Therapy-Bachelor of Science Degree Advancement Online Program and Master of Science in Respiratory Care.