After graduating with a degree in respiratory therapy, working as a respiratory therapist wasn’t quite enough for Brian Cayko.

He had a drive to do more.

The Fairview native wanted to put himself in a position to help progress respiratory care. Today, Cayko serves as the director of clinical education for the respiratory care program at MSU Great Falls College of Technology.

Cayko’s career aspirations in high school were to become a doctor or chiropractor. While in high school, he had a sports injury, went to a chiropractor and was impressed by the experience.

But while working toward his undergraduate degree in Bozeman, Cayko decided that wasn’t going to be the right field for him. In the meantime, he met a number of respiratory therapists in Bozeman and became interested in that field.

He liked the freedom and variety the field offers. Respiratory therapists work with a variety of patients in different areas of the hospital.

“One of the nicest things about it is you are helping people,” Cayko said.

After graduating from MSU, he enrolled in the respiratory care program at MSU-Great Falls.

He completed the two-year program and went to work at Benefis, but wanted to continue to advance his education.

He didn’t know at the time his current position at MSU Great Falls would open up, but it did and is a good fit.

As the director of clinical education, Cayko spends time teaching students in a classroom setting as well as administrational work coordinating students’ clinicals, where they work in a hospital setting with a respiratory therapist.

It’s a nice combination of teaching skills to students and then watching them apply those skills in a clinical setting, Cayko said.

But he never planned to go into teaching.

“I really just loved what I was learning,” he said.

Once he got out in the field he worked with respiratory therapists in training.

“When you get out, you get to teach future generations of therapists,” Cayko said. “I loved it. I just ate it up. That really firmed up what I wanted to do.”

While working toward his respiratory therapy degree, Cayko met his wife who is also a respiratory therapist. “That’s kind of what’s kept me here (in Great Falls),” he said. “She has family in the area.”

Cayko also likes Great Falls because it reminds him of his hometown, Fairview, located near Sidney on the North Dakota border.

Cayko says the support of his family, particularly his wife, has helped him be able to pursue further education.

“Family support has been huge,” he said.

His wife has been supportive and understanding through years and years of education, which put demands on his time.

Outside of work, Cayko enjoys hiking, skiing and outdoor activities. He’s also involved with his sons’ schools, flag football, T-ball and other activities.

Cayko was recently elected to the board of the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. He also plays guitar in a local band, Social Habit.