Ralph Stumbo Jr RRT CPFT FAARC created APEX to address two needs: Training and Staffing.
Training: The student is only as good as the instructor. Because there has been a lack of high quality, highly focused PFT training, technicians have been forced to learn what they can, where they can, when they can. Unfortunately due to the busyness of our labs, not a lot of time is allocated to the education of staff and even if it were, it's difficult to find any good educational opportunities.
Staffing: Let’s face it, doing lung function testing is not for everyone. This creates a smaller pool of candidates from which to draw. If you are not working in a lab, there is not a lot of opportunity to acquire your skills and keep them sharp. The reality is this; it is very difficult to find qualified applicants ready to step into your lab and hit the ground running.
Due to Ralph's involvement in the leadership of pulmonary diagnostics at both the state and national level, he is frequently approached by laboratory managers looking for qualified personnel to fill a vacancy or to cover for vacations and leaves of absence. Many positions have gone vacant for long periods of time only to be filled by untrained staff who are forced to "learn on the job". We understand this is not what you desire. You intended to hire someone who has already had good training and experience but unfortunately they just don't exist.
The same situation can exist for temporary or "fill-in" staff. It's hard to find the right person to start with, and then once they are trained our lab budgets don't frequently allow you to get them the time in the lab they need to keep their skills sharp. Whether it is a full pulmonary lab or simple clinic spirometry, we all strive to give the best possible care we can, in every situation. By partnering with APEX we can help you achieve these goals. Your goals are our goals; providing safe, affordable, high quality care for every patient.
Ralph's professional connections has enabled him to assemble a team who is equipped to meet your clinics' needs at whatever level you desire. "Who we are" comes down to this: We are highly trained, highly motivated pulmonary testing professionals that take lung function very seriously. We enjoy testing, we enjoy serving patients and we are dedicated to doing that by providing the highest quality lung function testing available anywhere.
Simply fill out the contact form and Ralph will personally consult with you to develop a custom training or staffing plan to suit even the toughest of situations.
About Ralph
Ralph is a 1986 graduate of the US Army Combat Medic Course and Respiratory Specialist Course at Ft. Sam Huston in San Antonio, Texas. His first position in Respiratory Care was in Hermiston, Oregon where he was the first therapist with any formal education. Because of this, rural clinics and hospitals hold a special place in his heart.
Ralph has been actively involved in PFTs his entire career. He was fortunate to have a mentor who showed Ralph that PFTs were not just something you "do" but a real profession worthy of a lifetime of study and devotion. Ralph has continued to study and learn from other "pillars" of the profession.
In 2003 Ralph and Kitty Dunyaski started the hugely successful RCSW Pulmonary Diagnostic seminars in conjunction with the Respiratory Care Society of Washington's annual scientific symposium. Year after year they have brought in the best speakers on pulmonary diagnostics from the entire country. Ralph's first experience in formal higher education started in 2005, when for several years he served as the instructor of the Pulmonary Function course at Tacoma Community College's Respiratory Care program. Ralph lectures on a variety of topics having to do with pulmonary diagnostics at both the local, regional and national level.
In 2014 Ralph was honored to be asked to serve on the Pulmonary Function Exam Committee of the National Board for Respiratory Care, where he has served ever since. In 2016 Ralph received the American Association of Respiratory Care's (AARC) Diagnostic Section's Specialty Practitioner of the Year award as voted on by his colleagues. In 2019 Ralph was elected to a three year term as the AARC Diagnostic Section Chair. He was able to get section membership up over 1,000 members, something that had never been done before in the history of the section. Ralph's years of regional and national service was recognized when he was inducted as a Fellow of the AARC (FAARC) in 2022 and then in 2024 Ralph was bestowed the Robert A Bonner Award for Professional Service. These are are among the highest awards given by the AARC and RCSW. He is only the 12th recipient of the Robert A Bonner Award.
Over his career Ralph has trained over 200 therapists and nursing staff to perform high quality spirometry and full lung function testing. He has a passion for lung function testing that drives him to help others do and be their best at what we do. Ralph is the eternal optimist and believes that it is possible to get "Excellent Quality...Every Patient, Every Test".
Ralph resides in Federal Way Washington with Sherry, his wife of over 39 years. They have two married daughters who have blessed them with seven grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Ralph has been actively involved in PFTs his entire career. He was fortunate to have a mentor who showed Ralph that PFTs were not just something you "do" but a real profession worthy of a lifetime of study and devotion. Ralph has continued to study and learn from other "pillars" of the profession.
In 2003 Ralph and Kitty Dunyaski started the hugely successful RCSW Pulmonary Diagnostic seminars in conjunction with the Respiratory Care Society of Washington's annual scientific symposium. Year after year they have brought in the best speakers on pulmonary diagnostics from the entire country. Ralph's first experience in formal higher education started in 2005, when for several years he served as the instructor of the Pulmonary Function course at Tacoma Community College's Respiratory Care program. Ralph lectures on a variety of topics having to do with pulmonary diagnostics at both the local, regional and national level.
In 2014 Ralph was honored to be asked to serve on the Pulmonary Function Exam Committee of the National Board for Respiratory Care, where he has served ever since. In 2016 Ralph received the American Association of Respiratory Care's (AARC) Diagnostic Section's Specialty Practitioner of the Year award as voted on by his colleagues. In 2019 Ralph was elected to a three year term as the AARC Diagnostic Section Chair. He was able to get section membership up over 1,000 members, something that had never been done before in the history of the section. Ralph's years of regional and national service was recognized when he was inducted as a Fellow of the AARC (FAARC) in 2022 and then in 2024 Ralph was bestowed the Robert A Bonner Award for Professional Service. These are are among the highest awards given by the AARC and RCSW. He is only the 12th recipient of the Robert A Bonner Award.
Over his career Ralph has trained over 200 therapists and nursing staff to perform high quality spirometry and full lung function testing. He has a passion for lung function testing that drives him to help others do and be their best at what we do. Ralph is the eternal optimist and believes that it is possible to get "Excellent Quality...Every Patient, Every Test".
Ralph resides in Federal Way Washington with Sherry, his wife of over 39 years. They have two married daughters who have blessed them with seven grandchildren and one great grandchild.