International award highlights respiratory therapist's achievements

Mardi Hayden, a Health Center respiratory therapist, earned national recognition earlier this year, when she was named Cambridge Who’s Who Professional of the Year in respiratory therapy.

Hayden last year became a member of the Cambridge Who’s Who Registry, an index of executive, professional, and entrepreneur biographies in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

Each year, just two male and two female members in each discipline are named Professional of the Year, based on their accomplishments, academic achievements, leadership, and service.

Respiratory therapists make sure patients get the oxygen they need when they have difficulties with breathing, whether the culprit is asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sleep apnea, or a premature infant’s underdeveloped lungs.

Central to Hayden’s selection was her 24 years as a certified respiratory therapist and prenatal-pediatric specialist at the Health Center.

During that time she has cared for babies with a gestational age of 24 weeks (born 16 weeks premature), adults in their 90s, and patients of all ages in between.

She also won an American Red Cross Heroes of Greater Hartford Award in 2001 as a member of a Neonatal Transport Team that made a three-hour drive during a nor’easter to care for a premature infant in respiratory distress.

“Mardi has the can-do attitude and goes beyond the extra step in giving the best patient care,” says respiratory therapy supervisor Janet Schoenewolff.

Hayden works on the typically busy evening shift. She also has helped train other respiratory therapists over the course of her career.

The Health Center has 22 full-time respiratory therapists and 10 who work on a per diem basis.

“Our respiratory therapists are highly-skilled professionals who have to be able to care for a variety of patients, ranging from neonates to geriatrics,” says Ellen Leone, director of nursing at the Health Center.