Nicole Saliba’s passion for her work as a pediatric respiratory therapist is evident when she describes her job.  

“One of the things that I love most about working here is that I get to be a part of miracles,” says Nicole, who is Supervisor, Pediatric Respiratory Therapy, Cleveland Clinic Respiratory Institute. “If parents are told somewhere else that there’s nothing that can be done, they come here, and we save their child. That is the most amazing thing to be a part of.” 

Personal experience shapes future  

Nicole first learned about the field of respiratory therapy when she was 13 years old, following her sister’s surgery and hospitalization in a unit at Cleveland Clinic. 

“Her roommate was an asthmatic patient,” Nicole says. “I got to meet one of the respiratory therapists who was taking care of her, and I really enjoyed the interaction that the therapist got to have with the patient.” 

As it turned out, the husband of Nicole’s current manager, Kathy Fedor, was a family friend. “I reached out to Kathy and asked her about respiratory therapy, and she piqued my interest more. So, I knew before I even entered high school what I was going to do as a career.” 

Treating all patients 

Respiratory therapists work with patients who are having trouble breathing because of illness, injury or surgery. At Cleveland Clinic, Nicole’s team is involved in the care of every type of patient, including those in the Intensive Care Unit.  

“We manage the ventilation of pre- and post-op congenital heart patients and neonates, and the non-invasive ventilation in all areas. We treat patients with respiratory failure, we manage the ventilators of vent-/trach-dependent children, and we treat patients with bronchiolitis, asthma and all other post-op patients,” she says. 

“We also see patients with extremely rare congenital heart defects or other rare congenital deformities that require special interventions, as well as rare mitochondrial diseases and genetic disorders.” 

A rapid rise 

Nicole went to school to obtain her bachelor’s degree in respiratory care, and acquired a permit to practice as a limited respiratory therapist while she was a student. She started in the Cleveland Clinic Pediatric Respiratory Therapy Department in 2001 as one of the department’s first equipment technicians, stocking respiratory therapy equipment, and pulling, cleaning and setting up different devices. (This position is now called Respiratory Support Technician.)  

After receiving her bachelor’s degree, Nicole moved into a registered respiratory therapist role. “I started off on nights and worked my way to days,” she says. “Then, shortly after that, an opportunity came up for a supervisor position in my department. I applied for it and got the position.” That was in 2009, and Nicole has been the supervisor ever since. 

Nicole notes that she is a practicing supervisor, and still does direct patient care. “I don’t ask my therapists to do anything I wouldn’t do, and ultimately it is patients first. So, if my team is short-staffed, I jump in, day or night.” 

Kathy Fedor, Nicole’s manager, has witnessed Nicole’s growth as a respiratory therapist. “She has now been a Cleveland Clinic caregiver for 23 years, all of them dedicated to the care of children within the department of Pediatric Respiratory Therapy. She is organized and dedicated and an excellent clinician.” 

Support from the organization 

Nicole’s career, and her rise to the supervisor position, has been greatly assisted by Cleveland Clinic. “Cleveland Clinic offers the ability to grow from a tech position all the way up into management,” she says. 

For instance, Cleveland Clinic offers caregivers managerial courses, Nicole notes. “I was very young when I became a manager,” she says. “Cleveland Clinic offered classes that helped me develop leadership skills, for things like having crucial conversations. They have the resources and support for you to grow.” 

A tight-knit team 

Nicole supervises a staff of 20 respiratory therapists, and, as she describes it, the team is very close. “We really rely on each other, both professionally and personally,” she says. “So, when one person has something going on in their life, we all pitch in to help, to take over things here so that they can concentrate on that. We’re very protective of each other. We really are a family.”  

Outside of work, the team unwinds with an annual turducken feast (chicken stuffed into a duck, which is then stuffed into a turkey). “One of us roasts a turducken and the rest of us bring different dishes, and we all just get together and relax and enjoy each other’s company.”