When Lauren Kaziska first walked through the doors of UPMC Cole in July 2020, she wasn’t preparing breathing treatments or managing ventilators. She was carrying cleaning supplies.

It was the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Lauren had just started as an environmental services (EVS) associate. What began as a housekeeping role quickly became an introduction to a career she never expected.

“It was a crazy experience,” Lauren said. “It was very hard work, especially during COVID. I was scrubbing walls, working overtime, and running constantly. But it was rewarding. I really liked being in the health care environment.”

At the time, healthcare had not been her intended path. Lauren holds a bachelor’s degree in graphic design and worked briefly in marketing after graduating. But something felt missing.

“I realized I missed healthcare,” she said. “Being in the hospital just felt right.”

Working in EVS placed her at the center of the hospital community. Through daily interactions with nurses, therapists, and physicians, she gained insight into the many career paths available within a hospital setting. One unexpected text message helped shape her future.

“A friend of mine who worked as a night-shift respiratory therapist texted me out of the blue and asked if I’d ever thought about respiratory therapy,” Lauren said. “He sent me a link to a program, and I started looking into it.”

The more she researched the profession, the more it resonated. Respiratory therapy combines science, hands-on patient care, and critical thinking, providing vital support to patients experiencing breathing difficulties or critical illness.

Lauren rejoined EVS at UPMC Cole while enrolling in a respiratory therapy program. The hospital’s tuition assistance benefits helped make returning to school possible.

“That support definitely helped,” she said. “It made going back to school and working in healthcare a lot more manageable.”

She now views her time in EVS as the gateway to her new career.

“EVS really is a doorway,” Lauren said. “You meet so many people and see so many departments. I wouldn’t even have known respiratory therapy existed if I hadn’t worked here and talked to the therapists.”

In October, Lauren reached another milestone. After working second shift in EVS, she was offered a position as a respiratory care assistant at UPMC Cole. In the role, she works closely with respiratory therapists, assisting with treatments, managing equipment, and learning daily workflows.

“I follow the therapists and help them throughout the day,” Lauren said. “It’s been great because when I start working as a therapist, it won’t feel like such a big transition. I’ll already understand the processes.”

While working several days a week at UPMC Cole, Lauren is also completing clinical rotations at UPMC Williamsport, nearly a three-hour drive from her home near Bradford. On clinical days, she begins her commute around 3 a.m. to arrive for a 6:30 a.m. shift.

The long drive, she said, is worth it.

“At Williamsport I see a lot more cases and higher-acuity patients than a smaller hospital,” Lauren said. “Even though it’s a long drive, it’s helping my education so much.”

Her current clinical focus includes ventilator competencies, often spending entire shifts in the intensive care unit shadowing therapists and completing required skill checkoffs.

Lauren is on track to graduate in May. After completing the program, she will sit for two board exams to become a registered respiratory therapist.

Her goal is to remain at UPMC Cole and begin her career where it all started.

“I’d like to work here full time to start,” she said. “This place gave me my opportunity.”

Five years ago, Lauren never imagined trading graphic design for ventilators and patient care. Now, she encourages others, especially those unsure of their next step, to explore the possibilities around them.

“It’s a huge learning curve, but it’s exciting. I get to help people directly, and I really enjoy that,” she said. “A lot of people don’t think they can do it. They’re smarter than they think. You just have to start. Take that first step, otherwise you stay in the same place.”