In the fifty-fourth episode of Vitals and Voices, we sit down with Ke’Shawna, a Registered Respiratory Therapist currently pursuing training in cardiovascular perfusion, where she is preparing for a highly specialized role in open heart surgery. Her journey reflects a commitment to critical care, innovation, and improving access to healthcare for the communities she cares deeply about.

As a respiratory therapist, Ke’Shawna has cared for patients experiencing some of their most vulnerable moments—supporting breathing through medications, therapies, and mechanical ventilation. Through this work, she developed a strong foundation in critical care and a growing interest in the advanced technologies that sustain life. That interest ultimately led her to perfusion, where she is now training to operate the heart-lung machine during cardiac surgery and support patients through complex interventions involving ECMO, Impella devices, intra-aortic balloon pumps, and more.

Her path into perfusion was shaped both by personal and professional experiences. Witnessing a loved one undergo open heart surgery brought the field into focus in a deeply personal way, while working alongside perfusionists as an RT sparked her curiosity and solidified her desire to pursue this specialized area of medicine.

What continues to motivate Ke’Shawna through the challenges of training is staying connected to her “why”—remembering the family and community that inspire her work and the broader impact she hopes to have through her career. For her, healthcare is not just about technical skill, but about showing up for people and helping improve outcomes where it matters most.

Ke’Shawna is especially passionate about social determinants of health and the ways they shape access to care. Having grown up in an underserved community herself, she understands how structural barriers can influence health outcomes and is committed to advancing awareness and equity in the field.

Among her proudest accomplishments are her academic achievements in perfusion school, earning a spot on the Dean’s List multiple times, securing her first perfusion position, and working alongside a research partner toward publication of a scholarly project. Each milestone reflects not only hard work, but a growing commitment to contributing to the future of cardiovascular care.

Ke’Shawna’s story is a powerful reminder that the path to specialized medicine can be built through curiosity, perseverance, and a desire to serve—and that representation and advocacy matter at every level of healthcare.