In an impressive display of Respiratory Care knowledge, student teams from accredited California Respiratory Care programs gathered to compete in the 2023 Sputum Bowl competition. The Sputum Bowl event is a Jeopardy-style competition that challenges students on various Respiratory theories.
The competition aims to promote camaraderie among the participants and highlight the dedication and perseverance of the Respiratory Care students. The competition fosters critical thinking and teamwork skills and the ability to make quick, critical decisions necessary for future healthcare providers.
The Sputum Bowl is crucial in nurturing the next generation of skilled and compassionate Respiratory Care Practitioners. This is an annual event that was discontinued during the pandemic; however, it was brought back this year. This year’s Sputum Bowl competition allowed Respiratory Care programs to showcase their students again. The Skyline College Respiratory Care program participated in two of these competitions.
The first Sputum Bowl regional competition was held at Hartnell College during the Spring semester. The Skyline College Respiratory Care program created two teams, the All-Betterols and the Bromides. It was a competitive competition, but the Bromide team had a mighty lead during every round and ultimately won the Regional Sputum Bowl. The team was given the honor to compete at the state championship conference in Temecula, California.
The California Society of Respiratory Care awarded the Bromide team members complementary conference registration and resort lodging at the Pechanga Hotel and Casino in Temecula. The Bromides competed against eight teams from other Respiratory Care programs in California. They played a strong game but ultimately lost to the Crafton Hills College team. The Bromides may not have won the State championship, but were placed within the top teams.
The Skyline College Bromides and All-Betterols spent several months studying for the Sputum Bowl competitions, which showed. The conference attendees were amazed by the depth of knowledge and problem-solving skills displayed by Sputum Bowl participants. The entire competition was riveting and highlighted the Skyline College Respiratory Care program.
We are incredibly proud of our 2023 Sputum Bowl teams, the All-Betterols (Trisha Cassianni, Weiyun Gu, Jeniquia Jefferson, and Kaitlyn Huynh) and the Bromides (Mark Santos, Reginald Viray, Humberto Perez, and Sara Morrison)! We look forward to participating in the 2024 Sputum Bowl competitions. Go Skyline!
Article was written by Sara Morrison, Sophomore Year Respiratory Care Student, and Heather Esparza, Allied Health/Respiratory Care Program Director