As 2022 wraps up and we enter the holiday season, it is natural to reflect on the events of the year. This is a terrific opportunity to share why we are grateful. We decided we would check in with our inaugural Blog contributors and a few other special peers in the respiratory diagnostic community to see what they want to highlight for which they are grateful.

Heather Murgatroyd, BA, RRT, IL author of Blog #1 – I am grateful for the opportunity to share information with my peers through training and education. In preparing materials for others, I gain so much knowledge in the process, which is a definite “job perk!”

Holly Wilson, RRT, RPFT, Portugal, author of Blog #2 – I am eternally grateful to my employers, teachers, and mentors who have trusted in my ability to learn from them, and in turn, I say thank you to everyone who has put their trust in me to teach them.

Sheila Mackie, RRT, MA, author of Blog #3 – I am so grateful to have chosen to become a respiratory therapist because of the difference I have made over the years in people’s lives. I got the most gratification when working with home care and hospice patients. In my current position, I love being able to bring value to PFT labs by assisting or educating them on bronchial provocation testing. 

Ralph Stumbo Jr, RRT, RPFT, FAARC, WA, author of Blog #4 – After spending a couple of years working on process improvement projects outside the PFT lab I am grateful to be back in the lab seeing patients and, as my friend Jeff Haynes says, “pinching noses”. I knew that I have always gotten satisfaction from giving great care but the time away has shown me just how much I love doing what I do!

Mike Hess, MPH, RRT, RPFT, MA, author of Blog #5 – I am thankful to work alongside a fantastic team that not only speaks on behalf of our patients but also demonstrates the value RTs bring to the entire continuum of care. I’m thankful for in-person meetings again! I’m also thankful for the GOLD organization for always working to expand our knowledge about COPD and how to manage it!

Robert A. Brown, BS, RRT, RPFT, FAARC, WI, author of Blog #6 – I have so much to be grateful for this year. I’d like to give a huge shout out to healthcare professionals who tirelessly strived to provide the highest level of care and compassion to their patients. I’m especially grateful for those respiratory key opinion leaders who volunteered their time and expertise to develop standards and recommendations designed to improve the quality of delivered care.

Cheryl Russ, BA, RRT, IL – I am grateful for attending the Asthma Educators annual conference in Chattanooga, TN this past August. It was nice connecting with so many amazing Asthma Educators, physicians, and presenters that share the same passion as I do as it pertains to Asthma awareness, education, medication treatment, and patient plan of care initiatives.

Pauline Loomis-Wagner, RRT, RPFT, IL – I am thankful for being able to provide diagnostic testing on so many patients in our service area. There were very few supply issues, and this really helped. I am grateful I have been able to add staffing to our diagnostics department, and because of this our wait time has improved. I couldn’t ask for anything more!

Rachel Subramaniam, MBA, BSc, Associate Product Manager, Methapharm Respiratory – I am grateful for the opportunity to work so closely with a team that is truly passionate about building awareness for respiratory disease to improve patient care and patient’s lives. I learn so much from my peers on a day-to-day basis and they inspire me to continue to grow in my role.  

Rosemary Dicke, RRT, MN – What a spotlight on our profession in the last 2 years. I am very grateful for all the advancements they have made in treating COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses. Every RT has felt the burden of not enough employees, or not enough equipment etc. these last couple of years. I am hopeful that highlighting our career paths has caught others interest in joining our RT family. Thank you to all the RTs in our family!

Carolina Azcona, MBA, MSC, Director of Sales, Methapharm Respiratory – I am grateful for the incredible people I have worked with previously and those I work with today, from patients to colleagues. They have supported, encouraged, and inspired me in countless ways. I have given but have received so much more.

What are YOU grateful for in 2022?