RC Week: Felix Khusid on the Evolution, Impact, and Future of Respiratory Care

Felix Khusid has spent nearly 40 years in respiratory therapy, including 35 years as a department director at New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital. After initially pursuing physical therapy, Khusid discovered respiratory care and found a profession that combined his desire to work in an acute care environment with his passion for helping patients.

For Respiratory Care Week, he highlights the importance of advocacy and why we all need to keep fighting for its continued evolution.

What inspired you to become a respiratory therapist?

Both of my parents were physicians, and I always wanted to become a physician. When I came to the United States from what was then the Soviet Union in 1981, I needed to get an education and begin working as soon as possible. I initially pursued physical therapy, but I wanted something more acute where I could see the results of my work more quickly.

While I was studying physical therapy, a visiting professor from a respiratory therapy program spoke to our class about the profession. I was fascinated by what I heard and decided to switch my major. I graduated from Long Island University in 1988, and the rest is history.

Why is the work of respiratory therapists so important, particularly in critical care?

Respiratory therapists have a very specific role because we are professionally trained to identify and treat conditions and care for patients who require life support. In critical care, the RT’s role is much more than managing equipment. It involves evaluating the patient’s entire life-support system and providing goal-directed therapy.

RTs need to understand laboratory results, CT scans, X-rays and the disease process. We should not be viewed simply as equipment operators or task performers. We are critical care practitioners who bring specialized knowledge to a multidisciplinary team.

How do you see respiratory therapy evolving as a profession?

I believe the profession needs to continue advancing its educational standards. While an associate degree is currently the main entry point into respiratory therapy, I believe a bachelor’s degree should eventually become the standard entry-level education requirement.

That does not mean eliminating associate degree programs. They are important, accessible, and often less expensive, and they provide an essential pathway into the profession. I believe an associate degree should be the first step, followed by continued education toward a bachelor’s degree. The profession has to keep evolving if we want to advance respiratory care and improve patient outcomes.

What do you wish more people knew about respiratory therapists?

I wish the general public had a better understanding of how truly lifesaving respiratory therapy can be. COVID-19 brought tremendous visibility to the profession. Before the pandemic, many people had little idea what respiratory therapists did. The crisis helped change that, but we need to build on that awareness. Continued outreach and education about the role of respiratory therapists can help the public better understand what we contribute to patient care and why our profession is so important.

What advice would you give to the next generation of respiratory therapists?

Always aim for the highest possible standard. There was a poster in my son’s classroom that said, “Always aim for the stars, and if you miss, you still end up in great company.” That has stayed with me.

Don’t choose the easiest or simplest goal. Aim for the greatest thing you can achieve. When opportunities arise to advance your education, develop your skills, or become the best practitioner you can be, take advantage of them.

Why is it important to celebrate respiratory therapists during Respiratory Care Week?

I’ve celebrated Respiratory Care Week with my staff throughout my career because it brings several important things together. It shows what respiratory therapists do and reminds our colleagues, patients, and visitors that RTs are an important part of the multidisciplinary team.

It also gives us an opportunity to recognize and appreciate our staff. People want to know that their work matters and that they are valued. When respiratory therapists feel appreciated and connected to the work they do, it strengthens the entire department.

For me, Respiratory Care Week is ultimately about recognizing the people who make the profession what it is. A successful respiratory care department is built by its team and celebrating that team is an important part of leading it.