After developing asthma as an adult and seeing multiple doctors who couldn’t help him, David Borg decided to do something about it himself.
“It was affecting my work in the field,” Borg said, who graduated from American Career College’s Respiratory Therapy associate degree program in April 2013. “So I decided I needed to learn more about it.”
Borg shopped around and checked out a few other schools before deciding to attend ACC-Orange County.
“When I went to ACC, the person I spoke to was clear and compassionate. It was a welcoming environment,” he said.
A former combat engineer with the US Army, Borg was impressed by the ACC facilities and the staff’s attitude. Borg singled out ACC instructors Wayne Walls and Joshua Cosa for their expertise and willingness to share it.
“Mr. Cosa’s passion for respiratory therapy really inspires me. He was a part-time instructor at ACC-OC and he allows me to contact him at any time. He never seemed bothered by students asking questions. That type of character inspires me to want to behave that way,” Borg said.
Borg said he will forever be grateful for the advice and help he received from the ACC faculty, not only while a student but even after graduating and finding work.
"None of this would be possible for me without the RT faculty. They have helped me post-graduation as well with their knowledge and wisdom, and I didn't want that to go unnoticed," he said. "I am extremely grateful for the entire team at ACC making not just respiratory therapists, but professional respiratory therapists."
One of Borg's favorite quotes is from 19th century author and pastor Charles Spurgeon, who said, “By perseverance, the snail reached the Ark." Borg's advice to ACC students now seems to echo Spurgeon's words.
"Study," he said. "You can achieve the highest knowledge by studying. Even if you feel you aren’t going to pass, just study what the teacher is telling you and you can achieve whatever you want to."
Since graduating, Borg has been working at an inpatient mental health facility in Central California.
“There are 1,200 patients here and 350 are mine,” Borg said.
In his two years as a respiratory therapist, he said he's already been considered for a full-time manager position at a hospital and, after seeing the work he did at his present job, a
durable medical equipment company wants him to help to solve their respiratory financial issues.
“When I came into the role, I looked at what was the protocol, the tracking system for equipment ordered and consolidated it to identify which person needed which treatment,” he said. “It reduced the cost of buying unnecessary materials. Then we developed tracking for which patients are using what machine, how much they’re using it and how much we’re spending on it.”
Borg said it’s important his patients trust him, a relationship that takes time and understanding. One patient with severe emphysema at the facility quickly became irritated with medical care, but Borg said he was able to work with the patient due to his training and attitude.
“Because of my persistence and gentle tone, we were able to have a sit-down meeting for an hour about using his maintenance inhaler. He said the only reason he would speak with me was because I treated him like an adult and with respect,” Borg said. “I got him to the point where he didn’t need his rescue inhaler and he had a smile on his face.”
