The partnership between the university and the health system provides students with clinical experience opportunities and the ability to make career connections.
Bowling Green State University and Blanchard Valley Health System have formed a partnership that provides healthcare students with clinical experience opportunities and the ability to make career connections. In addition to serving as a clinical training site, the health system has donated equipment and is an employer of Bowling Green State University graduates.
According to an article on Bowling Green State University’s website, Mike Cifranic, who serves as a nursing recruitment and retention specialist at Blanchard Valley Health System, was quoted as saying of the partnership, “Strong partnerships like the one we have with BGSU allow us to connect with future healthcare professionals early in their education. It's about more than recruiting students after graduation. It's about building relationships, supporting their professional growth and helping them recognize the opportunities available right here in our community. By investing in these students today, we're not only helping them prepare for successful careers, but also strengthening the healthcare workforce that will serve our communities for years to come.”
Cifranic often attends career fairs at the university and has invited university admissions personnel to the Blanchard Valley Health System to speak to employees who may be interested in advancing their education, as well.
Blanchard Valley Health System is a gold-tier partner of Bowling Green State University and serves as a clinical training site for students in the university’s nursing and respiratory care programs. It currently employs more than 175 Bowling Green State University graduates and had 35 BGSU students complete internships at its various sites in 2025.
As a clinical training site for the respiratory care program, Blanchard Valley Health System provides students with the opportunity to gain skills in floor therapy, adult critical care, cardiac diagnostics, and pulmonary function testing.
The respiratory care profession has been experiencing increased demand since the COVID-19 pandemic, as more individuals are dealing with pulmonary challenges than before.
Jami Koziel, the clinical manager of respiratory therapy at Blanchard Valley Health System and member of the respiratory advisory board at BGSU Firelands, said, “I firmly believe that investing in the next generation of respiratory care professionals is critical to the continued growth and success of our field. The outcome speaks to the quality of students coming through the program and the value of the partnership between our organizations. I look forward to continuing to work together with BGSU to support student development and strengthen the future respiratory care workforce.”
Additionally, the health system has donated two advanced portable mechanical ventilators to the respiratory care program.
Ashley Deskins, the director of clinical education in BGSU Fireland’s respiratory care program, said of this donation, “The students will learn how to safely operate ventilators, interpret patient responses and troubleshoot problems before working with real patients in clinical rotations at the hospitals. We’re grateful to our partners like Blanchard Valley Health System for helping prepare our students for their futures in respiratory care.”
For more information about Bowling Green State University, visit the school’s website.