Vanier Pandemic Heroines and Heroes

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In the midst of the college closure while those of us who can, are working from home trying to do our jobs or find solutions to the academic problems raised for teachers and students, there are Vanier heroines and heroes at work to help deal with the pandemic directly – namely Respiratory and Anaesthesia Technology and Nursing personnel.

Vanier Teachers on the Front Lines in the Hospitals
“We are all working at 200% to do what we can to help out in this situation! Respiratory therapists are the experts in treating patients with respiratory disease and in mechanical ventilation and are needed now more than ever,” says Respiratory Coordinator Patricia McClurg. “Almost all of our teachers are currently on the front line, either working as Respiratory Therapists in the ICU or helping with the retraining of respiratory therapists from other areas of the hospital for work in the ICU where they are now most needed.”

Working on Research and Development
Patricia is also collaborating on several research and development projects helping to develop new respiratory equipment to meet the needs of patients during this Covid19 outbreak.

Antoinette Cocciolo, Nursing Coordinator, indicates, that “Many of our clinical teachers and alumni are also on the front lines, working in the Emergency Departments and ICUs, both in the MUHC and JGHs. From what we are hearing, the situation is very stressful but they are trying hard to work as a team. We are staying in touch, letting them know that we support them and are extremely proud of the work that they are doing.”

Vanier has also loaned supplies to support the hospitals. All 13 of the Respiratory Therapy program’s adult mechanical ventilators have left the college for the Glen site of the MUHC. Masks, gloves, gowns, foot coverings, and other personal protective equipment (PPE) have also been sent from the Nursing, Respiratory and Anaesthesia Technology and Animal Health Technology departments.

Kudos and thank you to all our front line health care providers. They are true heroines and heroes during this crisis and we owe them a debt of gratitude.