Student Experience: Marcus Jackson Sr., RRT

“I was attracted to El Centro’s program because of its accessibility, affordability and affiliations with local hospitals. The best part of my experience was the relationships I developed with fellow students and the learning experiences provided at the local clinical affiliates. 

“My education has allowed me to support my family. If we were talking about Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, it would be one of the foundational experiences that have allowed me both to meet basic needs and to expand my passions in other areas of life such as ministry. 

“The most important thing I learned is that small beginnings don’t necessarily mean small endings. Methodist Health System (which operates three hospitals in the DFW metroplex) recently hired a new CEO, Steve Mansfield, who actually began his career in health care as a respiratory therapist. 

“I feel that it is a non-negotiable to get a college degree and not settle for less. Non-college-based programs do not necessarily give you the professional skills that are required to interact with physicians and other disciplines effectively and to eventually expand your career.” 

Marcus Jackson earned an Associate in Applied Sciences degree from Cedar Valley before earning an additional A.A.S. in Respiratory Care from El Centro. In 2005, he graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in ministry and leadership from Dallas Christian College and earned a master’s degree in New Testament from Johnson Bible College in Knoxville, Tenn., in May 2009.  In his current position, he manages day-to-day operations of a full-service hospital respiratory care department that offers 24-hour inpatient and outpatient respiratory care. His responsibilities include recruiting, training, hiring staff, budgeting, planning and operation of the department as well as maintaining accreditation of the blood gas laboratories. He previously served as team leader of the NICU respiratory care department and the neonatal transport team of Methodist Dallas Medical Center. He was ordained to the preaching ministry of the Baptist Church in 2002.

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