Marybeth M. Emmerth,
MS, RRT, CPFT

Registered Respiratory Therapist,
Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist,
Respiratory Therapy Program Director memmerth@wju.edu

BS - Wheeling College
MS - University of Pittsburgh 

What goes around comes around!!!

Professor Emmerth is a product of Wheeling Jesuit University's Respiratory Therapy Program. Then the school was known as Wheeling College and at that time, never in her wildest dreams did she ever think she would be back and running the program.

"After working in the field for several years, I jumped at the opportunity to come back, teach and serve my alma mater. I enjoy imparting my knowledge and clinical expertise with eager to learn students. I have developed stronger, more diverse clinical affiliate rotations and added several new courses to the curriculum, leading to extra elective certifications for our graduates."

"As an alumna, I take great pride in the program and work very hard to maintain the excellent reputation our program has. Believe me, if you choose to enroll in the RT program here at WJU, I guarantee you will be well prepared to enter a very in demand and exciting workforce. You too can take great pride in being known as a WJU Respiratory Therapist."

What goes around, comes around!!!

That's what Kristy Lewis, professor of Respiratory Therapy at WJU has realized.  A 2000 WJU respiratory therapy graduate, she went onto work at Mercy Hospital of/ in Pittsburgh's Respiratory Therapy department.  While there she decided to pursue her nursing degree through the hospital's Nursing School program.  After graduating as an RN, she worked in the Trauma Intensive Care and Neonatal Intensive Care Units as a nurse. She felt it was important to keep up her skills as a RT, so on her days off she worked as a respiratory therapist. 

In 2005 she made the switch from working in the field full time to becoming a professor at WJU.  "I am truly happy that I started teaching.  It challenges me in a different way than working in a hospital does." 

Kristy continues to perfect her skills by working as both a respiratory therapist and a nurse on the weekends.  "I enjoy working with the students, and believe that WJU's program provides an excellent foundation for what our students will encounter after they graduate, both in and out of the hospital setting! "