MC alum leads MMH Cardiopulmonary & Neurology departmentJune 22, 2023

“Respiratory therapists are the ‘cool kids’ in a hospital,” Troy Ward said.  “We do everything, go everywhere and see every type of patient—from those who are just a few minutes old to those who are at end of life.  I’ve been a respiratory therapist for almost 30 years, and I love my job!”

Ward graduated from Permian High School in Odessa in 1990 and then worked in the oilfield for three years before deciding on a career in healthcare.  In 1992, while completing an associate degree in Respiratory Care, he worked as a student intern at Odessa Regional Medical Center and then worked there fulltime after becoming a board-certified respiratory therapist.  

Today, Ward is director of the Cardiopulmonary and Neurology department at Midland Memorial Hospital (MMH).  During his career, besides working in hospital settings, he has held numerous respiratory therapist jobs that include working for several home healthcare agencies and a rehabilitation center.

“Each job offered me great experience,” Ward explained.  “When I was working at HealthSouth, [now Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital], I managed the Respiratory Therapy department and the lab.  Many people don’t realize that respiratory therapists are also licensed to draw blood, so managing the lab was a good fit. 

“When I worked in home healthcare, I was the branch manager, which meant that not only was I the respiratory therapist, I was also a driver, and I was responsible for marketing.  I worked there for a year, taking one week off when my son was born.”

Ward said that accepting the job as a staff respiratory therapist at MMH was the best career move he made.  

“There’s not a better hospital for which to work,” he said.  “Employees are allowed to think freely, outside the box.  When someone on my team comes up with a new idea to help a patient, I say ‘let’s try it.’  My motto is ‘Proceed until apprehended.’”

In November 2003, MMH promoted Ward to a director-level position, and he found that he enjoyed having management responsibilities.  To further advance his career, in 2011 he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Midland College’s Organizational Management program, and in 2017 he received a Master of Science degree in Healthcare Administration from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.  His Capstone Project was published in the American Society of Business and Behavioral Sciences (ASBBS) in 2018 and won the “best paper of a track” from the ASBBS that same year. 

Ward currently supervises approximately 60 respiratory care employees and oversees five departments:  Respiratory Therapy, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Respiratory Therapy, Vascular Access, Sleep Lab and Diagnostics.  In addition to regular respiratory responsibilities, the respiratory therapy team at MMH is responsible for conducting electroencephalograms (neurological diagnostics) and, to his knowledge, is the only respiratory therapy department in Texas that performs central line placements.

“Of course, a hospital never closes, so there is always a respiratory therapy group at MMH 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year,” Ward said.  “As long as there are people who breathe, we will be there!”

In addition to his responsibilities at MMH, Ward is also president of the Midland College Alumni Association.  He has two grown sons, ages 20 and 24.  In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with them and his girlfriend Stephanie.  Ward is also an avid golfer.