NBCC

New Brunswick is expanding access to pulmonary rehabilitation services in partnership with the New Brunswick Community College and College Communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick.

In a press release on Monday, the Department of Health announced its investing $1.47 million over the next three fiscal years to support a free pulmonary rehabilitation program.

The program will be run in clinics managed by NBCC and CCNB, and will offer disease-management education, personalized exercise plans, and ongoing support to patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other lung conditions

Health Minister John Dornan said in the press release the partnership will make pulmonary rehabilitation more accessible for New Brunswickers.

“These clinics will give people important tools and support to stay active and improve their health, while also providing student with valuable hands-on the experience that prepares them for careers in health care,” he wrote.

According to the press release, these services will help reduce symptoms, improve physical function and support overall well-being.

Care will be delivered by respiratory therapy students and other healthcare learners under the supervision of registered technicians.

In a separate press release, NBCC said the program began as a small‑scale conceptual pilot in 2018 and has since provided free pulmonary rehabilitation to residents with COPD.

NBCC currently operates clinics at its Saint John campus, as well as in Sussex and St. Stephen. Since April 2025, the school has delivered six nine-week clinics, serving nearly 90 patients with 92 students involved.

Building on the research led by NBCC’s College Office of Research Entreprises and early program results, the college has also developed a bilingual guide to help other institutions establish student-led pulmonary rehabilitation clinics across the province and beyond.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Government of New Brunswick for their investment in this program,” wrote Ann Drennan, NBCC’s vice-president, academic, innovation and student affairs.

As part of this initiative, CCNB will begin offering pulmonary rehabilitation clinics at its Dieppe campus starting this Monday, based on the NBCC model.