Foothill College Sparked Alum's Career in Respiratory Therapy

Leslie graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a degree in biology, but it wasn’t until a conversation with a friend of a friend who had just retired from a 20-year career in respiratory therapy that she found her vocation.  

Inspired, she went home and Googled respiratory therapy to see if she could find out more about what it involved. The first item that popped up was the program at Foothill College.  

"The program held a one-unit introductory course that outlined what the respiratory therapy program entailed," Leslie said. "I immediately took it, and I knew right away — I wanted to do this. I wanted to be involved with patient care." 

As a student at Foothill, Leslie faced significant financial challenges that were lightened by the help of donors.  

"Coming to Foothill and receiving scholarships really helped me focus on my studies," Leslie recalls. "As a person who came from a low-income family and had to support myself, the scholarship allowed me to work fewer hours and dedicate more time to studying and family." 

The direct connection between Foothill faculty and staff and local healthcare facilities also made a difference in Leslie’s education and job prospects.  

"Clinical rotations are critical in healthcare education," Leslie explained. "The faculty work in these facilities and have longstanding relationships with them. These relationships gave us access to vital training and internships, which when you’ve gotten your license and are entering the workforce are really helpful." 

Leslie’s time at Foothill came during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and her contributions went beyond the classroom.   

“Leslie is an amazing, caring, compassionate individual who always went above and beyond,” said Brenda Hanning, respiratory therapy program director. “During the pandemic, student clinical rotations were temporarily suspended. Leslie wrote letters in support of students getting back in the hospital and also took it upon herself to procure food donations from local restaurants and organize lunch deliveries to our clinical affiliates. The overworked and stressed healthcare workers were so appreciative of the support.” 

Today, Leslie works at the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital and continues to devote her career to serving her community. She deeply appreciates how receiving Foothill scholarships helped make a rewarding career possible.  

"The best part about my job now is being there for families—they are part of my community, and it’s important to me that they feel supported." Leslie said. 

Students like Leslie, who already hold four-year degrees often look to Foothill for programs like respiratory therapy that provide training for careers with high demand and good pay. In fall 2024, the college began to offer a Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care, and Director Hanning hopes that in the future, high school students will consider enrolling directly in Foothill for both two- and four-year degrees.  

Leslie’s journey demonstrates a key part of the Foothill-De Anza Foundation’s mission — the transformative power of philanthropy in higher education, and how it can change lives.