Respiratory Therapists Find Meaning in Their Work

Among the nine full-time respiratory therapists on the team, Ivy Rose Guevara, RRT; David Stiefel, RRT; and Jennifer Sullivan, RRT, are veterans of Dana-Farber’s Longwood and Chestnut Hill campuses. With more than five decades of combined service, there is mutual agreement that this work – and this workplace – are worth staying for.

Respiratory therapists diagnose, treat, and manage conditions that affect a patient’s breathing and cardiopulmonary system. In collaboration with doctors, nurses, and other members of the care team, they administer treatments – such as oxygen therapy and aerosolized medications – to help patients breathe easier during chemotherapy or radiation. They are also part of the clinic’s interdisciplinary medical response team, where they provide tracheostomy and laryngectomy care, perform pulmonary function testing to evaluate how a patient’s lungs are working, manage treatment side effects that affect breathing, and teach patients and families how to use prescribed breathing treatments and various respiratory equipment at home.

Inspiration Throughout the Decades

For Stiefel, Sullivan, and Guevara, respiratory therapy has always been a calling. Stiefel, who joined Dana-Farber in 2005, is the team’s longest-serving member, with the Institute representing the most extensive tenure of his career. At the time, he was looking for a change after working in hospital settings for four years, and the move has been more than he could have asked for.

“I was at a very stressful workplace before coming to Dana-Farber,” recalls Stiefel. “The culture is completely different. The environment is pleasant and more positive. At the end of the day, we know we’re all on the same team working toward the same goal: Patients first.”

He adds, “For the past 20 years, coming into work doesn’t feel like work. I wake up and love coming here.”

This past year marked Sullivan’s 20th year at Dana-Farber. Prior to joining the Institute in 2005, she worked in an acute care setting for many years. The motivation behind her work is also her patients.

“Our patients face incredible challenges with grace and determination,” she says. “Their examples inspire me to bring the same resilience and dedication to my work every day.”

At the other end of the career spectrum, Guevara started her career at Dana-Farber and intends it to be the only workplace on her resume. When Guevara was hired in 2011, the department of then-four respiratory therapists was just starting to expand. She remembers feeling optimistic about the small, tight-knit group and looking forward to learning from the experts as a new graduate.

“It was a welcoming team where I felt comfortable asking a lot of questions,” Guevara recalls. “Everyone was so patient. This is a team that looks out for each other.”

She notes that this camaraderie is not limited to just their group. “Coming into work doesn’t feel like what you’d expect from a cancer center,” she adds. “Walking down the hall, I am greeted with smiles or friendly ‘hellos.’ It’s nice to feel acknowledged by everyone.”

Better Workplace, Better Patient Care

Together, their dedication to creating a positive and supportive workplace environment feels innate and positions Stiefel, Sullivan, and Guevara to be better health care professionals. From behind-the-scenes work to essential frontline care, respiratory therapists consistently serve as educators and advocates for their patients.

“The work is rewarding, and our patients value our expertise,” says Sullivan.

Guevara also notes, “It’s humbling because as respiratory therapists, we just do our jobs, but for patients, being able to breathe easier makes a difference in their day.”

For the team, Dana-Farber is more than a workplace – it is a family. They understand the importance of centering their efforts on collaboration, compassion, and supporting not just patients and families, but also one another.

“Everyone at the Institute shares the same mission to relieve the burden of cancer through compassionate care and expert-driven, innovative research,” says Stiefel. “When staff are connected to and driven by the mission, it benefits patients and families and creates long-lasting bonds among us as staff.”

Sullivan believes the team is fortunate to share this commitment. “My time at Dana-Farber has transformed my understanding of the meaning of work, service, and community,” she says. “Here, our dedication extends beyond patient care – it is manifested in the genuine support, respect, and compassion we offer one another. Though our team is small, we arrive each day with purpose and inspiration, united by a shared commitment to excellence and humanity. It is this spirit and the unwavering devotion to our mission and to each other that leaves an enduring mark on all who are fortunate to be part of the Dana-Farber community.”