From Student to Patient to Future Practitioner

Charlotte native Kalyn Groncki ’24 intended to major in biology at UNCW. A global pandemic changed that.

Months into her freshman year, Groncki suffered a near fatal case of COVID-19 and spent 23 days (eight of those comatose) at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center. Specialists suspected a blood clot in her lungs was robbing her blood of oxygen and placed her on life support. Groncki awoke to the sight of her family in hazmat suits.

Thankfully, Groncki recovered. Once out of the hospital, her mom showed her an article in UNCW Magazine about the university’s new respiratory therapy program in the School of Health and Applied Human Sciences. Groncki taped it to her wall – and plans for a new major were set.

“2020 taught the world resilience in the face of adversity,” Groncki said. A change of course was not a difficult pivot. “I was taking my university cores and fulfilling prerequisites for my biology major, which aligned well with the ones required for respiratory therapy, making the transition fairly seamless.”

Currently a junior at UNCW, she is minoring in educational studies. After graduating, she plans to work at NHNHRMC as a registered respiratory therapist alongside the therapists who aided in her recovery.

UNCW’s bachelor of respiratory therapy program was approved by the UNC Board of Governors in 2019 with two pathways for degree completion: the bachelor of science (entry into practice) in respiratory therapy (BSRT) and the RRT-BSRT for registered respiratory therapists to earn a bachelor’s degree. The program accepted its inaugural class in fall 2021 and the first entry into practice cohort will graduate in May 2023. – CC