Pina Diana, the Manager of Respiratory/Anaesthesia Services at the Montreal Children's Hospital reviews milestones of her career after graduating from Vanier

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Where to you go with a DCS in Respiratory and Anaesthesia Technology? All the way to the top.

In 1984, I graduated from the Vanier Respiratory and Anaesthesia Technology program and began working immediately at the Montreal Children's Hospital (MCH) as a staff respiratory therapist. Initially, I was hired for 6 months only, but I ended up staying there until my retirement, having a wonderful a career in Respiratory and Anaesthesia, first as a therapist, then gradually taking on more responsibility and being promoted to head managerial positions.

An exciting beginning
1984-89 was an exciting time. I became a member of the unique MCH Neonatal Respiratory Therapist Transport Team that consisted of a respiratory therapist and a nurse who were dispatched to referring centers when a baby was born requiring transport to the Montreal Children's Hospital for ultra-specialized care (premature, cardiac anomalies, respiratory distress). I also worked on several clinical research studies.

1989-1999: Promotions and changes in the field
I was promoted to Assistant Chief Respiratory Therapist – MCH and became involved with the education of new staff respiratory therapists, residents and students. I was implicated in the development of advanced therapies (high frequency ventilation/oscillation, ECMO) and I published an article on the use of inverted tents for delivery of home oxygen to patients less than 1 year of age. By then, the Respiratory Therapy Department had grown to include more than 15 respiratory therapists and new technology was introduced in the field of neonatal mechanical ventilation in the premature population. The new more sophisticated technology meant that the role and responsibilities of respiratory therapists increased and they became members of code blue teams and trauma teams.

Manager of Pediatric Respiratory and Anesthesia Services
In 2000, I became Manager of Pediatric Respiratory and Anesthesia Services (Respiratory Physiology Laboratory, Sleep Laboratory, Respiratory Therapy, Anesthesia and Ambulatory Respiratory clinics). By now, the role of the respiratory therapist had expanded to include ECMO, Emergency Room, inpatient ward (Chronic ventilator dependent children, children with tracheotomies, difficult airways and non-invasive ventilation. I established respiratory therapist driven protocols that served to empower the respiratory therapists as clinicians and as vital members of the interdisciplinary team. I recruited respiratory therapists and worked on professional development activities and continuing education opportunities for them. We also established a quality assurance program to sensitize the staff in documenting and reporting all ill effects of medication errors or equipment malfunction.

McGill University Healthcare Center
In preparation for the building of the new McGill University Healthcare Center, I worked on many committees as a clinical expert. I advised on planning, detail design including the design of Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Respiratory services and operating rooms.

Consolidating the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit from 2 hospitals
From 2011-to 2014 I was co-chair of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit executive committee that planned the consolidation of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit from the Royal Victoria Hospital and the Montreal Children's Hospital. This included an analysis of new needs in personnel and equipment, and the creation of a training program for respiratory therapists to prepare them for the move and the changes to come.

An inspiration for all
After this long career in Respiratory and Anaesthesia that started with her diploma from Vanier, Pina Diana is retiring after leaving her mark on her profession and Montreal hospitals. It's the kind of career that inspires Vanier graduates from Respiratory and Anaesthesia Technology.