Barry Fitzpatrick ’96, ’98 says Shenandoah University was instrumental in his rise through the ranks of healthcare.
Without this institution I would not be where I am today.”
With both an associate’s degree in respiratory care and a bachelor’s degree in business, Fitzpatrick credits SU with giving him the skills he needed to succeed.
The respiratory program education gave me tools to help patients from birth to end of life. Continuation to the bachelor’s degree gave me skills used to advance in the management area of my profession.”
The most rewarding experiences throughout his career always come back to the daily interaction while helping patients and their families.
As a respiratory therapist, we attend most births in the hospital. Although working with newborns is intense, it is nice to be on the beginning side of life. This might sound strange, but it has been rewarding to me that I also share the last days of life.”
Now director of the laboratory and cardiopulmonary departments at Shenandoah Memorial Hospital in Woodstock, Va., Fitzpatrick oversees budgeting and expenses in both departments, which produce a combined $20 million in revenue each year. He is involved with several committees within the hospital as well.
In addition to his SU Alumni Association Board of Directors responsibilities, Fitzpatrick is a member of the Respiratory Therapy Advisory Board. He is the James R. and Mary B. Wilkins Award winner for Respiratory Therapy (1996) and Business (1998).