From RT to MD: Halani Shows How Far an RT Can Go

Pallav Halani, MD, came to the U.S. as an international student. Although he already had a degree in physical therapy from a university in his native India, he needed to enroll in a program here that would allow him to maintain his student visa.

Respiratory therapy fit the bill, and he soon became one of the first students to pursue a master’s degree in respiratory care from Northeastern University in Boston, MA.

But respiratory therapy was not to be the end of Dr. Pallav’s journey. His work in our profession sparked a desire to move even further into the study of the lungs and he decided medical school was the answer. He shares his story with us in this interview.

What led to your interest in respiratory care, and why did you decide to switch to RT from PT here in the U.S.?

My decision to pursue respiratory therapy was initially driven by practicality. As an international student, I needed a clinical training program in the U.S. that would allow me to continue my education and secure a student visa, and respiratory therapy provided that opportunity.

Once I entered the program at Northeastern, however, I realized how demanding and meaningful the work was. Respiratory therapy placed me at the center of critical decision-making, particularly around airway management and ventilator care.

I also had the unique experience of being among the first six students to earn a master’s degree in respiratory therapy through the program, which gave me early exposure to the evolving role of RTs in health care. What began as a practical step ultimately became the foundation for my interest in pulmonary and sleep medicine.

How long did you work as an RT, and what did you most like about the roles you took on?

I worked as a respiratory therapist for approximately five years in hospital-based settings. As a respiratory therapy student, I completed clinical training at several large academic and community hospitals, including Boston Children’s Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston Medical Center, and Cambridge Hospital.

After graduation, I worked briefly at Beth Israel before relocating to Michigan, where I worked at Henry Ford Hospital and Covenant Healthcare. Most of my clinical experience was in adult intensive care units and emergency departments, with some exposure to pediatric and neonatal care.

Working in high-acuity settings was challenging and demanding, but it taught me how to think critically under pressure and function as part of a multidisciplinary team. Those early years shaped my clinical confidence and laid the groundwork for my future training in medicine.

What are some of the key lessons you learned during your time in the RT profession?

My time as a respiratory therapist taught me humility, accountability, and perseverance. Early in my training, I struggled and had to confront my own limitations, which forced me to work harder and take full ownership of my role at the bedside.

Respiratory care leaves little room for shortcuts, especially in intensive care units and emergency departments where decisions around airways and ventilation have immediate consequences. Over time, I learned how to stay calm under pressure, communicate clearly, and earn the trust of physicians, nurses, and fellow RTs.

Those lessons shaped how I approached medical school and continue to guide how I practice today, particularly my deep respect for respiratory therapists as critical members of the health care team.

Why did you decide to embark on your medical career, and where did you go to medical school?

While working as a respiratory therapist, I became increasingly curious about the medical decisions behind the care I was delivering. I enjoyed the work but wanted a deeper understanding of disease and a greater role in guiding patient care. I found myself asking questions, seeking responsibility, and wanting to follow patients beyond the immediate respiratory issue.

Several physicians and colleagues encouraged me to pursue medical school, recognizing that drive for more independence and leadership. Medicine felt like a natural next step built on my RT foundation. I attended medical school on the island of St. Eustatius, where I completed my preclinical training, followed by clinical rotations in the U.S.

How did your background as an RT help you complete your medical education and influence your decision to specialize in pulmonology and sleep?

My background as a respiratory therapist gave me a strong clinical foundation for entering medical school. I was comfortable with cardiopulmonary physiology, ventilator management, and working in high-acuity environments, which enabled me to delve more deeply into understanding disease processes and patient care. During clinical rotations, I was naturally drawn to situations involving respiratory illness and critical care. That familiarity and confidence helped guide me toward pulmonology, where I could continue to build on the skills and perspective I had developed as an RT.

You are now working as a pediatric pulmonologist and sleep specialist at Texas Lung and Sleep Associates. Tell us a little about what that role entails and what it is like to work with RTs now, from your current perspective as a physician.

I currently practice as a pediatric pulmonologist and sleep specialist, with most of my work focused in the outpatient setting, along with inpatient consults as needed. I care for children with chronic and complex respiratory conditions as well as a wide range of pediatric sleep disorders, including sleep-disordered breathing and other conditions that impact overall health and development.

My background allows me to approach sleep and pulmonary care in an integrated way, particularly for patients with airway disease or ventilatory needs. Having trained and worked as an RT, I deeply value the clinical insight respiratory therapists bring to patient care and I enjoy giving RTs autonomy and involving them in shaping clinical decisions. That perspective is reinforced by the fact that my wife is also a respiratory therapist, keeping me closely connected to the profession both professionally and personally.

Tell us a little more about how you remain connected to the profession and why it is important to you to maintain that involvement.

I remain closely connected to respiratory care through my clinical work and the relationships I have maintained over the years. I continue to work alongside respiratory therapists during inpatient consults, particularly when managing complex airway and ventilator-related issues. I am deeply grateful to the respiratory therapy profession — it gave me the skills, confidence, and foundation that made everything that followed possible.

Many of the people I respected most during my time as an RT remain colleagues and friends today, and I continue to learn from RTs in my current role as a physician. Maintaining that connection is important to me because this profession shaped who I am clinically and professionally, and I feel a responsibility to give back and advocate for the vital role RTs play in patient care.

What advice would you give RTs about pursuing a career outside the respiratory care profession? How can they leverage the skills they developed as an RT in their new healthcare endeavor?

I would encourage respiratory therapists to stay curious and engaged in their work, regardless of where they are in their careers. RT training provides a strong clinical foundation, and that experience was personally invaluable to me throughout medical school, during residency and fellowship, and even now in practice.

Regularly stepping back to reflect on the purpose behind what you are doing can help clarify long-term goals and guide next steps. For those considering additional training or different paths, my advice is to seek mentors, ask questions, and be honest with yourself about what you want.

Most importantly, do not underestimate the value of your RT experience — it prepares you to think critically, work under pressure, and contribute meaningfully to patient care in any role.