Described as a tireless advocate for patients with respiratory illness and a therapist who shines above the rest, Liz Mitchell has been serving as a respiratory therapist for 36 years. Mitchell, who has been with Vidant Health since 2007 and with Vidant Beaufort Hospital for the past two years, has been named as a recipient of the PHIL (Pulmonary Health and Illness of the Lung) Award. The PHIL Award was established by the FACES Foundation to recognize outstanding respiratory therapists who provide care and treatment for patients with respiratory illness.

The FACES Foundation was created in 2006 to acknowledge and promote professional excellence in the education and care of patients with life-threatening pulmonary illness. The PHIL Award honors the unsung heroes in the respiratory therapy profession who understand that each breath matters.

Thursday afternoon, Mitchell was presented the award by Skip Bangley, manager of Respiratory Care at Vidant Medical Center, at a Vidant Beaufort Hospital’s manager meeting. Vidant Health recognizes two PHIL Award winners each year — one from Vidant Medical Center and one representing the Vidant regional hospitals. Mitchell was named at the regional recipient.

Mitchell was nominated by her patient, Janet Reardon. Reardon, who has terrible allergies and asthma, said, “Liz is the reason that I am still here and smiling. She took the time to talk with me about changes that I could make at home to help me breathe easier.”

Mitchell has been described by her manager, Alene Payne, as a champion for respiratory patients and a team member who is very modest about her accomplishments, one who never seeks credit for herself and attributes her victories to teamwork.

Mitchell said she was extremely surprised and honored to be named as a PHIL Award recipient. She said she loves her profession, enjoys what she does every day and loves her patients and fellow team members. She always knew that she wanted to work in health care and respiratory therapy provides her the opportunity to work in a variety of health care settings and with patients of all ages. As a respiratory therapist, she is at the patient’s bedside during their most critical time, being able to coach them through a crisis and reassure them that she will help them breathe.

Vidant Beaufort Hospital is proud of the work that Mitchell and her fellow respiratory therapists do to provide excellent care to our patients and honored to have a PHIL Award recipient on staff, according to Pam Shadle, manager of marketing, public relations, development and community outreach at Vidant Beaufort Hospital.