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Respiratory Therapist Program
University of Akron

The Summa Health Smart Start Program gives select University of Akron Respiratory Therapy students an opportunity to earn a degree with $5,000 in tuition paid per calendar year or $2,000 per semester in living expenses. Program participants are then linked to a job at Summa Health after graduation!


Here is how the program works:

  1. Program participants must be in year three or four of the Respiratory Therapy Program at the University of Akron and remain in good academic standing.
  2. Each program participant applies to work online a few hours each month completing online Summa Health classes.
  3. Summa Health subsidizes full-time students in the program by paying $5,000 in tuition support per calendar year or providing $2,000 in living expenses.
  4. After graduation, Summa Health will link each program participant with a new job as a Respiratory Therapist to fulfill a two-year work commitment at Summa Health.

The Summa Health Smart Start Program is supported through meaningful partnerships with community-based organizations as well as local community colleges and educational institutions. We are proud to partner with the University of Akron to offer this program to individuals looking to start a career in healthcare.

For more information, please contact Emily Cross, Workforce Development Coordinator, at 234.475.0242 or smartstart@summahealth.org.

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