Imagine choosing public health as your career path… only to be told it’s not a “real” profession. 😳

In this powerful episode of the RTs Share Tea Podcast, host Linda "Thee Asthma Lady" sits down with Dr. Anthony Santella, a nationally recognized public health expert and academic, to unpack a major policy shift that could reshape the future of public health education and the workforce.

This episode was a must for me to cover — because I would not be where I am today as Thee Asthma Lady without my Master of Public Health layered on top of my Respiratory Therapist skills, and without Dr. Santella pulling me deeper into the public health space early in my career. This conversation is both professional and personal.

Dr. Santella breaks down — in plain language — the Federal Department of Education’s reclassification of public health as a non-professional degree, why this decision matters, and how it could impact:

✔️ Public health students

✔️ Higher education programs

✔️ Workforce pipelines

✔️ Community and population health outcomes

We also dive into what inspired Dr. Santella to enter public health, his journey into academia, and what he believes lies ahead for the field if this policy stands. This episode blends expertise, lived experience, and real talk about why public health deserves recognition, protection, and investment — now more than ever.

☕ The tea is hot, the conversation is necessary, and the implications are real.

👇 Join the conversation in the comments and let us know:

How do YOU think this policy could impact the future of public health?

#PublicHealthEducation, #MPHDegree, #DepartmentofEducationPolicy, #PublicHealthWorkforce, #AnthonySantella, #TheeAsthmaLady, #RespiratoryTherapist, #PublicHealthCareers, #Rts #HigherEducationPolicy, #HealthEquity, #CommunityHealth, #teaspills, #asthma,

In this vlog-style episode of RTs Share Tea, I’m taking you with me behind the scenes at AARC Congress 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona — and let me tell you, this conference shifted something in me.

From early-morning sessions to hallway conversations that fed my soul, this year’s AARC experience reminded me why we, as Respiratory Therapists, have to keep investing in ourselves, keep learning, and keep betting on our future selves.

I’m sharing:
✨ How networking at AARC 2025 expanded my vision for my career
✨ What lifelong learning really looks like outside the classroom
✨ Why your professional growth matters just as much as the care you give

This episode is for any Respiratory Therapist who’s ever felt stuck, overlooked, tired, under-inspired, or unsure of what’s next. If you need a sign to keep going, keep growing, and keep showing up — this is it.

Pull up, sip some tea, and let’s talk about how AARC Congress 2025 truly changed the way I see my future as an RT.

#AARCCongress2025 #respiratorytherapists #Respiratorytherapycareergrowth #lifelonglearning #Networking #Respiratorycare #healthcarejobsbesidesnursing #Respiratorytherapyschool

In this episode of the RTs Share Tea Podcast, we’re diving deep into the powerful impact of Community Health Workers (CHWs) with special guest co-host Traci Hardin, MPH, AE-C — a nationally respected asthma educator, CHW ally, and public health champion.

Join us as we share the TEA on how CHWs bridge gaps in care, build trust in underserved communities, and bring asthma education to life in ways that truly change outcomes.

We discuss:

💨 Why CHWs are essential partners in asthma self-management

💨 How education, empathy, and lived experience make CHWs effective

💨 The training and support CHWs need to thrive

💨 Real stories from the field — wins, challenges, and lessons learned

And for all the future asthma educators out there: Traci shares heartfelt advice for CHWs who want to take the Certified Asthma Educator (AE-C) exam but feel intimidated. (Spoiler: She’s your biggest cheerleader!)

If you care about community health, health equity, asthma education, or empowering frontline workers, this episode is your must-listen.

Grab your tea — we’re talking community, compassion, and the kind of care that starts where people live, learn, and breathe. 🍵💙

#RTsShareTeaPodcast #AsthmaEducation #CommunityHealthWorkers #HealthEquity #CHWStrong #TheeAsthmaLady #WHEEZER #AsthmaAwareness #ImpactfulHealthCommunicator