CEDAR RAPIDS — Kirkwood Community College’s Respiratory Therapy Club will host the Third Annual Haunted Hospital Saturday, Oct. 25, from 4 -7:00 p.m. at the Katz Family Healthcare Simulation Center on the institution’s main campus in Cedar Rapids.

Open to the public, the event will transform the simulation center into a haunted house with medical-themed Halloween scares. All funds raised will go to support students in the Respiratory Therapist program.

Debuting in 2023 with great success, the Haunted Hospital serves as a unique fundraiser that gives the community an opportunity to engage with the program’s students, faculty, and staff in an entertaining way.

Respiratory Therapist Program Director Liliana Hoffnagle said the event has grown from a fun idea into an effective way to support her students.

“The Haunted Hospital has become an entertaining and unique fundraiser,” said Hoffnagle. “It’s been an amazing success over the last couple of years, especially since we didn’t know what to expect when we first started. It was wonderful to have so much support from Kirkwood faculty, staff, alumni and community members. We’re really excited to host the event this year, especially since it happens during Respiratory Care Week, which makes the event even more special as we celebrate our profession.”

The amount raised during the event has grown each year, and organizers hope the event will be even more successful in 2025.

“The more funds we raise, the more support we can give to our students,” said Hoffnagle. “When we can help ease the cost of their education, students are able to focus more on their studies, finishing the program, and entering the workforce.”

For more information about the Respiratory Therapist program at Kirkwood, go to www.kirkwood.edu/respiratorytherapist.