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Respiratory Therapist and Polysomnographic Technologist Licensing Board

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IntroText

Upcoming HLO Closures Due to State Holidays

​Mark your calendar and note that the Health Licensing Office (and all State of Oregon agencies) will be closed on the following days:

  • Friday, November 10, 2023, for Veterans Day (observed)
  • Thursday and Friday, November 23-24, 2023,​ for Thanksgiving
  • Monday, December 25, 2023, for Christmas

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Practitioner information

The following regulated professions are overseen by the Respiratory Therapist and Polysomnographic Technologist Licensing Board. Learn more about applying for a license, associated fees, laws, rules and more by following the links below:

About the board

The Respiratory Therapist and Polysomnographic Technologist Licensing Board (RTPT) oversees the practices of respiratory therapists and polysomnographic technologists in the State of Oregon.

The RTPT consists of seven members appointed by the governor and subject to confirmation by the Oregon Senate:

  • Three respiratory therapists
  • Two polysomnographic technologists
  • One qualified medical director for polysomnography or respiratory care
  • One public member

Members of the board must be citizens of Oregon. Respiratory therapist and polysomnographic technologist members must have engaged in their respective practice for a period of five or more years immediately preceding appointment. The term of office of each member of the board is four years, but members serve at the pleasure of the governor. Vacancies are filled by the governor by appointment for the unexpired term. A member holds office until the appointment and qualification of a successor.

Members are eligible for reappointment. After serving two consecutive full terms, members must wait at least four years before being eligible for appointment to serve on the board.

Board members

Jacob Espinoza

Jacob Espinoza

Term: 2nd Full
Term end: 2/29/2024
Bend


Jacob Espinoza has been a sleep technologist for 10 years and currently serves at St. Charles Hospital in Central Oregon as the manager of clinical operations for pulmonary, sleep and infectious diseases for critical care providers. He says he wanted to be a part of the Respiratory Therapist and Polysomnographic Technologist Licensing Board because "I was impressed by the standards to be a licensed sleep tech in Oregon."

Sarah Fitzpatrick

Term: 1st Full
Term end: 12/16/2022
White City


Sarah Fitzpatrick has worked at Oregon Institute of Technology for six years as an associate professor and two years as program director of the Respiratory Care program. She also works as an on-call Respiratory Therapist at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford, Oregon. Fitzpatrick received a Master's in Healthcare Administration from Pacific University and is currently working on a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership with an emphasis in Higher Education Leadership. She holds instructor credentials for Basic Life Support, Pediatric Advance Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support through the American Heart Association.

"With a passion for the professionals in Respiratory Care and Polysomnography, I feel it is important to support the professionals in the industry by serving on the Respiratory Therapist and Polysomnographic Technologists Licensing Board" shared Fitzpatrick.

 
Michael Lefor

Michael Lefor

Term: 2nd Full
Term end: 2/29/2020
Portland


Dr. Michael Lefor is Attending Physician at The Oregon Clinic and specializes in critical care, pulmonary and sleep medicine, all for which he is board certified. Named as one of Portland Monthly's "Top Doctors" in 2010 and 2012, Dr. Lefor serves as medical director at sleep disorder treatment facilities in Portland and Silverton. Graduating from Oregon Health & Science University with a medical degree in 1996, Dr. Lefor has presented, consulted or acted in an academic capacity at more than 50 conferences, workshops and other events. He served his residency at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle and received a fellowship in his practice specialties from the University of Utah. "Ultimately, our responsibilities are to our patients so they can receive the most appropriate, safe, and reliable care," Dr. Lefor said. "Because of my background, I do feel that I am well qualified to provide a physician-patient perspective regarding any regulatory developments governing respiratory care and polysomnography."

Mark Easbey

Term: 1st Full
Term end: 11/24/2023
Junction City


Mark Easbey has been a sleep technician for the past 10 years and since 2016, has been the lead sleep technician at the Samaritan Sleep Center in Albany, Oregon. Easbey served in the armed forces doing four years active duty in the United States Marine Corps. He is highly passionate about the field of sleep medicine and its close connection to respiratory care. Easbey feels a sense of duty to do all that he can do to promote the highest of standards in these two fields to ensure patients get the quality of care they deserve.

Pablo Herrera-Fuentes

Term: 1st Full
Term end: 11/24/2023
Beaverton


Pablo A. Herrera-Fuentes is a Research assistant for the School of Nursing at the Oregon Health and Science University working under the supervision of Dr. Kerri Winters-Stone on Cancer and Exercise research trials. He received his B.S in Exercise Science from Linfield College, and is currently working to receive his Master’s in Clinical Exercise Physiology from the University of Mary.

After receiving his undergraduate degree Mr. Herrera-Fuentes worked as a rehabilitation aide at a Physical therapy clinic in Salem for two years before moving to Beaverton to pursue a new challenge working on cancer research. While at Linfield College he served as a Mentor for first generation Hispanic students in the Linfield College Latinos Adelante school group.

Before graduating, Mr. Herrera-Fuentes completed a research study looking at Music and Exercise which was presented at the Regional ACSM conference held in Bend, OR. As a full-time master’s student, he is currently working to complete a systematic review on the effects of preferred music on exercise performance in endurance sports.

Erickson, Michael

Term: 1st Full
Term end: 5/31/2025
Hermiston




Lori Freimark

Term: 1st Partial
Term end: 11/30/2023
Oregon City




Board Recruitment

Are you interested in serving as a volunteer citizen board member? HLO-regulated boards seek new members as current board member terms expire.

Current vacancies and how to apply

For board recruitment questions or the appointment process, contact the Oregon Governor's Office of Executive Appointments at 503-378-6829.