Growing up, Hanna excelled in math and science. As she got closer to making a decision on the direction of her career, it became a matter of how she would apply her interests.

Pursuing a path in the medical field was not on her radar until she began volunteering at a pulmonary rehab facility.

“When I was growing up, the medical field was intimidating to me,” Hannah says. “There’s just so much there, and everybody makes it look so easy. They know what they’re doing. But as an outsider, you really don’t understand it.” 

Hannah’s mom suffered from respiratory illnesses and had to abandon her dream of a career in nursing. Eventually Hannah found herself volunteering at a pulmonary rehab facility. This is where she discovered she could help others while using her love of math and science. A perfect match.

“There’s a lot of math and science in respiratory care. All of the treatments, therapies and medications that we give come from chemistry and biology and evidence-based practices, so… it’s the foundation,” she says.

Making a difference

Hannah chose Delta because it’s local, the hands-on approach to learning and “because it has an amazing respiratory care program.” She also knows Delta will be with her every step of the way, and beyond. 

“Once I finish, I want to work at the hospitals. I want to make a difference in peoples’ lives. And I know that I can always come back to my professors here with questions, to find guidance, to always have a mentor,” she says.  

 

Hannah not only wants to make a difference with her patients, she wants to be able to give back to the place she calls home. 

“If I could describe Delta in one word, I would describe it with ‘community’ because we are all close,” she says. “We live in the same areas. We grew up here. We’re going to stay here and we want our communities to grow and be prosperous.”

Are you interested in starting a career in respiratory care? Delta College’s program is the perfect place to start. Apply now.