I’m Sharman Lamka, President of The FACES Foundation — Family & Caregiver Education and Support — dedicated to promoting professional excellence in the education and care of patients with life-threatening pulmonary illnesses and diseases of the lungs.

FACES’ mission is to acknowledge and promote professional excellence in the education and care of patients with life-threatening pulmonary illnesses. Our signature program is The PHIL Award (Pulmonary Health & Illnesses of The Lungs).  It is the only national hospital-based award that honors respiratory therapists as nominated by patients, family members and other caregivers.  We are giving patient’s a voice in their care and helping hospitals recruit, recognize and retain outstanding RTs. 

Today, we celebrate an extraordinary milestone: the 1,000th PHIL Award honoree has been recognized. This moment represents not just a number, but a thousand stories of compassion, excellence, and dedication from respiratory therapists across the country.

Reflecting on Our Journey

FACES, a 501c3 non-profit, was founded in 2006 in memory of my late husband, Philip Lamka, who passed away from complications of interstitial lung disease. In the early days of his illness, we didn’t know what a respiratory therapist did — we thought they simply plugged his oxygen in and put something in his canula if his nose was dry. Wow, was that wrong! We quickly learned that they do so much more.

You were the ones who taught me how to perform “chest clomping” to break up congestion, who tilted his hospital bed to help a single breath find its way through hardened lungs, who came in before shift and searched for a mask that would help him breathe easier (we affectionately called it the Jason mask from the scary movie).

You also were the one to hold my hand when he took his last breath.

Those moments inspired The PHIL Award — the only national, hospital-based award that honors respiratory therapists nominated by patients, families, and caregivers. It gives patients a voice in their care while helping hospitals recruit, recognize, and retain outstanding RTs.

Honoring the Respiratory Therapy Community

The PHIL Award reflects, acknowledges and advocates for the many “faces” of those living with pulmonary illnesses: the patients, their support network of close family and friends and those unsung heroes in the respiratory profession who understand that each breath matters. 

We’re ensuring that the community at large and the hospital community know the importance of the respiratory therapist as an integrated and crucial member of the team.

Respiratory therapists are with us from the day we’re born to the day we die and all the breathing challenges in between. They are an essential part of the frontline team helping patients breathe easier. They assist premature babies with respiratory issues, patients with asthma, blood clots, Cystic Fibrosis, lung cancer, pneumonia, COPD, and all other pulmonary issues. The respiratory therapist is essential to their care.

Through 250 hospital partners encompassing 330 hospitals, across 40 states and the District of Columbia, the PHIL Award nominations highlight stories of patient advocacy and extraordinary care. Each story is a reminder that every breath truly matters.

Gratitude and Growth

The PHIL Award began as a way for me and my family to process our grief, and it has grown into a national movement — one that reflects, acknowledges, and advocates for the many “faces” of those living with pulmonary illnesses: patients, their families, and the respiratory professionals who support them.

Our hospital partners understand the importance of honoring respiratory therapists, and many reach out to us wanting to strengthen their recognition programs or start one. Your continued support allows FACES to expand our programs, add new ones, and continue supporting patients, families, and caregivers affected by lung disease.

Looking Ahead

Our vision is to see The PHIL Award in hospitals in every state — and eventually across Canada, Europe, and beyond. Anywhere there’s a respiratory therapist helping someone take a breath, we want to be there to celebrate them.

You can help make that possible:

• If you’re a patient or family member, encourage your hospital to participate or thank the RTs who have made a difference in your care.

• If you’re an RT, share The PHIL Award with your hospital and colleagues.

• If you’re part of a hospital leadership team, consider becoming a PHIL Award partner to celebrate your respiratory team’s incredible work.

Continuing the Legacy

Today, The PHIL Award stands as a resource for the respiratory community and a testament to the power of compassion in healthcare. Personally, I’m grateful to be part of this extraordinary community — and I know Philip is smiling down on all of us and blushing to think that he is still being remembered today and seeing what we've accomplished together over the years.

Please visit thefacesfoundation.org to learn more, see our list of hospital partners and honorees, and consider supporting our mission. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X to stay connected.

Breathing is natural and the essence of life. Patients with lung disease cherish every difficult breath the take.  FACES and The PHIL Award honor the respiratory professional that strives to make every breath as easy as possible.