Inspired by a NICU Bedside: How Leah Hoffmann Built a Career in Respiratory Care

Thursday, October 29, 2026

As we celebrate Respiratory Care Week, we are proud to share the inspiring story of Leah Hoffmann and the life-changing impact respiratory therapists make every single day.

When 19-year-old Leah sat by her daughter Rylee’s bedside in the neonatal intensive care unit in 2008, she was watching her future grow in more ways than one.

Spending nearly two months surrounded by hospital staff in Iowa City provided a clarity she hadn't expected. Among all the medical professionals caring for Rylee, the respiratory therapists made a lasting impression. Leah saw how closely they worked with patients, guiding them through critical moments and watching them grow stronger every day.

“Respiratory care really stood out to me because you have that patient involvement—you can see your patients get better and form that relationship," Leah said.

Determined to turn that inspiration into a career, Leah returned home to Dubuque with her husband and daughter and enrolled in the Respiratory Care program at Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC).

Balancing an intensive clinical program with parenting a newborn was a constant juggling act. Nights were filled with late feedings and study sessions, but Leah persevered with the help of a strong support system at home and dedicated faculty on campus. The small class sizes and supportive, approachable environment made Leah feel comfortable asking questions and leaning on instructors like Jolene Fransen and Amy Raush when family needs arose.

Leah’s drive pushed her far beyond the standard curriculum. During her second year of school, she took on a student externship at UW Health in Madison. She routinely commuted back and forth, working 24 hours a week on the night shift while maintaining her full-time class schedule and clinicals in Dubuque.

“The clinical rotations are very much simulations of what we do in everyday life, so the amount of clinical hours we had was very, very beneficial for my long-term success,” Leah said.

Leah graduated from NICC in 2011, but her drive to learn didn't stop there. Knowing she wanted to complete her advanced education as soon as possible, she immediately enrolled in the Learning Institute for Fulfillment and Engagement (LIFE) program at the University of Dubuque. While working as a staff respiratory therapist on the night shift at UW Health, she took evening classes and earned her Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration by 2013.

Over the next decade, Leah’s career continued its steady upward trajectory. She served as a dedicated staff therapist before stepping into a lead role in 2019, just ahead of the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her leadership and deep clinical experience led to her being named the manager of respiratory care, cardiopulmonary and neurodiagnostics at UnityPoint Health – Finley Hospital in 2023.

"I still utilize my respiratory education every single day in my manager role, whether that be helping my staff or providing new equipment education,” Leah said.

Eighteen years after her journey began in the NICU, Leah’s connection to NICC remains strong. Having served as interim faculty on campus over the years, she regularly works as a clinical preceptor, mentoring current NICC students during their rotations at Finley Hospital.

For Leah, the most rewarding part of her career remains the wide spectrum of care she delivers, treating everyone from fragile newborns to end-of-life geriatric patients. She often reflects on how her time at NICC laid the groundwork for everything that followed, instilling the critical thinking, adaptability and core values that still guide her management and patient care every single day.

When asked what she would tell anyone considering the program, her encouragement is simple: "I would tell them it is a very rewarding and successful career. It is hard work, and it does take dedication, and willingness to learn and grow and be adaptable. Come into it with an open mind, and knowing that, at the end of the day, our patients' best interests are at the forefront of our care."