Veteran Respiratory Therapist Honored for Providing Exceptional Care

Veteran Respiratory Therapist Honored for Providing Exceptional Care

UToledo Health recently honored a respiratory therapist who has spent nearly three decades at the University of Toledo Medical Center with a PHIL Award for the extraordinary care and compassion she provides to her patients.

Melissa Riley-Kennedy is UToledo Health's first recipient of the award, which is part of a national program overseen by the Michigan-based nonprofit FACES Foundation to recognize the contributions of exceptional respiratory therapists.

"Respiratory therapists are a vital part of the healthcare team, quietly making a big difference in patients' lives," said Melissa Kukiela, director of respiratory care at UToledo Health. "The PHIL Award gives us a way to publicly recognize these unsung heroes for the support and often lifesaving care they provide."

The FACES Foundation and the PHIL Award were established in 2006 in honor of Philip C. Lamka, who died the prior year from interstitial lung disease.

Today, nearly 300 hospitals nationwide partner with the organization to present an annual award to a leading member of their own respiratory care team.

Riley-Kennedy was one of 20 respiratory therapists to be nominated by their peers for UToledo's inaugural award.

"I am incredibly humbled to be the first winner of the PHIL award," she said. "I can't say enough that it is a team effort to care for patients. To know that my peers value me as part of that team? What can you really say about that except a heartfelt thank you. I truly couldn't do what I do without my team."

A UToledo alumna, Riley-Kennedy knew she wanted to work in healthcare but wasn't sure how. After a year and half in nursing school, she found her fit in respiratory therapy.

She returned to UToledo not long after graduation and recently celebrated her 28th anniversary with UToledo Health.

"I love the people I work with. They are my extended family. We spend holidays, birthdays and anniversaries together. I couldn't do my job without everyone else here," she said. "The other thing I love about the job is caring for our patients. We hold their hand through some of the best and worst days of their lives, and I hope that our patients see we only want the best for them. Seeing a patient improve enough to be discharged is priceless."

Respiratory therapists have a broad set of responsibilities, ranging from assessing a patient's lung function and administering breathing treatments to managing patients on ventilators and assisting in critical care situations, such as cardiac arrest.

"We work really closely with the emergency department, trauma, the critical care units, pulmonary medicine and the sleep lab," Kukiela said. "A lot of times, we're seeing the same patient from the moment they come through the door until they're discharged, and it was big morale boost for our team to see the nominations that came in from folks throughout the hospital. It's a big deal to know you're appreciated."

For this year's award, nominations came exclusively from employees, with more than 70 submissions received. In the future, nominations also will be open to patients and patients' family members.