Dallas College

Student Experience: Zlatko Prijic, RRT

My name's Zlatko Prijic. I'm a pulmonary rehab coordinator here. I've been a respiratory therapist for about 21 years. I graduated from El Centro. They have a great program, prepared me for the field of respiratory therapy. It gave me an opportunity and since it's a different career for myself it opened up new doors for me. And it's been a rewarding career. Instructors at El Centro we're very knowledgeable and very helpful when it came to respiratory therapy and explaining what it was and guiding us during our education at El Centro. 

Well when I moved down here from Canada, I wasn't allowed to work so I went to school and I didn't know what respiratory therapy was. When I went to El Centro it was convenient for me, the location. And it was centrally located with all the hospitals around it so it was real convenient to do clinicals.  El Centro had a good reputation. It was very affordable -- the education -- and for the quality of the education that you're getting. I think El Centro prepared me quite well and I'm very qualified to do what I do. And I've worked in different areas. This is where I've settled right now but I've worked in ICU and they prepared me for ICU. 

They've prepared me for floor therapy and it's a well-rounded education. I think I'd recommend El Centro to anybody, and I always do. If someone wants to go into respiratory or wants to learn more about respiratory, I point them in that direction.


Read More

Alyssa Young

Alyssa Young

Nursing Student and Athlete
“Community college gives you the opportunity to grow into adulthood while figuring out what you want to do with your life. With all of the resources available, it gives everyone a stable place to begin their college journey.”
Nursing
No image available

Lupe Ortiz, RRT, NPS

Respiratory Care Practitioner Baylor University Medical Center
“I chose El Centro one, it was closer to home. It was a little more affordable than going to somewhere out of state or somewhere else. Just those two things were, were the main thing, the reason why I chose to go to El Centro. I think El Centro did an excellent job of preparing me for going into the workforce.”
Respiratory Care Program
Alice Madden

Alice Madden, CST, FAST

Certified Surgical Technologist Methodist Dallas Medical Center
“I will continue to be involved and to encourage and motivate surgical technologists to be the best they can be in all surgical specialties. I want to encourage all surgical technologists to become certified and become members of the AST and the Texas State Assembly.”
Surgical Technologist
Prayuth Phang

Prayuth Phang, RT(R)

Radiologic Technologist Community Portable X-ray Inc.
“Dallas College has a lot of programs for people who want to have a better life with education. I strongly recommend other students to join this program — they have the best teachers who really care about their students, as well as financial help available. I love what I’m doing, and I will continue doing it to serve people.”
General Studies, Radiologic Sciences

Zlatko Prijic, RRT
Pulmonary Rehab Coordinator Baylor University Medical Center
Respiratory Care Program
School of Health Sciences
Updated July 28, 2026