Success Spotlights

Meet Dallas RT Program Director Tommy Rust

Concorde Staff

Concorde Staff

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Updated November 9, 2016. The information contained in this blog is current and accurate as of this date.
Tommy Rust, Dallas RT Director

Having just about exhausted our allotment of Campus President spotlights, or professional profiles, we've decided to get a little more specific. We're going to start introducing you to various directors of programs we have at our 16 campuses. And, since November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, we decided to start out by introducing you to Tommy Rust, Program Director of our Respiratory Therapy program at Concorde Career College - Dallas.

Tommy has been a Program Director (PD) or involved in education for more than 40 years but has been at Concorde for the last seven and just a little longer than a year as a PD. He heads up one of Concorde - Dallas' most popular and highly-regarded programs.

Let's learn a little more about Tommy's love for education and helping students, his love of a certain criminal investigative show and his love of flight.

Meet Tommy Rust.

 

WHAT'S BEEN YOUR JOURNEY TO BECOMING A CONCORDE RESPIRATORY THERAPY PROGRAM DIRECTOR?

 

I started with Concorde in 2009 as the National Director for Respiratory Therapy and transitioned into the PD position at the Dallas campus in 2015. I have been a PD or DCE for the past 40 years. I started in "Inhalation Therapy" in 1968.

 

WHAT'S BEEN THE BEST PART ABOUT BEING A PROGRAM DIRECTOR?

 

The best part has been being involved with Respiratory Therapy students and helping them realize their dreams to be a Registered Therapist.

 

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT MAKES YOUR RT PROGRAM IN DALLAS STAND OUT, SEPARATES IT FROM A TYPICAL RT PROGRAM?

 

Like all RT programs at Concorde, the faculty makes the difference. The PD sets the environment for the faculty to thrive and grow. This, I believe, allows them the freedom to be great educators.

 

WHAT'S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WERE EVER GIVEN?

 

Work hard and do the right thing!

 

WHAT'S A FAVORITE TV SHOW, RECENT MOVIE YOU'VE SEEN OR BOOK YOU'VE READ?

 

My favorite TV show is NCIS. The last book I read was "Sully," by Chesley B. Sullenberger III with Jeffrey Zaslow.

 

WHAT IS A HIDDEN TALENT, FAVORITE HOBBY OR LITTLE-KNOWN FACT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU?

 

I am a pilot. I have flown gyroplanes and planes. I used to own an RV-6A and flew almost every day. I also participate in "DFW Honor Flight," which takes WWII, Korean and Viet Nam veterans to Washington D.C. to see their memorials.

Take The Next Step Towards a Brighter Future

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  1. Program length may be subject to change dependent on transfer credits and course load. Please refer to current course catalog for more information. Concorde does not guarantee admittance, graduation, subsequent employment or salary amount.

  2. Professional certification is not a requirement for graduation, may not be a requirement for employment nor does it guarantee employment.

  3. Financial aid is available to those who qualify but may not be available for all programs. Concorde does not guarantee financial aid or scholarship awards or amounts.

  4. Clinical hour requirements and delivery may vary by campus location and may be subject to change. Concorde does not guarantee clinical site assignments based upon student preference or geographic convenience; nor do clinical experiences guarantee graduation, post-clinical employment or salary outcomes.

  5. Registration and certification requirements for taking and passing these examinations are not controlled by Concorde, but by outside agencies, and are subject to change by the agency without notice. Therefore, Concorde cannot guarantee that graduates will be eligible to take these exams, at all or at any specific time, regardless of their eligibility status upon enrollment.

  6. Externships are a non-paid in-person learning experience, whose length and location may be subject to change. Concorde does not guarantee externship placement, graduation, post-externship employment or salary outcomes.