RISING STAR

BIOGRAPHY

Alex Golchehreh graduated from the Loma Linda University Respiratory Care Bachelor's Program in 2014, and followed up with his Master’s in Respiratory Care in December of 2020. An outdoor enthusiast and a sports fanatic, Alex played competitive basketball and football in his youth. Sports taught him many life skills: discipline, determination, and teamwork. All of these became useful when he stepped into the healthcare profession.

When injuries as a senior in high school ruined his teenage dreams of playing college sports, he did not know what he wanted to do next. He worked multiple jobs, went to school full time, and volunteered at the homeless shelter. But even with a goal of helping people, pinpointing a career was difficult for Alex.

Around this time, Alex’s grandfather passed from emphysema. His older sister, who had attended the LLU Respiratory Care program and was then a respiratory therapist, told Alex to look this profession. As a respiratory therapist, he could help individuals with lung disease or injury, like his grandfather. After research and job shadowing, he decided to apply. It was a decision that would dramatically improve his life. Alex says, “The faculty at Loma Linda University are top-notch, extremely intelligent professionals who care about the educational experience of their students. I can honestly say that attending Loma Linda has truly prepared me for my career by giving me the skills, knowledge, and confidence to succeed.”

Currently, Alex enjoys his work as both a Respiratory Care PICU Clinical Manager at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland and as a front-line respiratory care practitioner at John Muir Medical Center.

The Cardiopulmonary Sciences department is pleased to present the 2021 Rising Star Award to Alex Golchehreh.