Published November 13, 2025
With more than 20 years of experience as a respiratory therapist, Jonathan Ellis has been helping patients breathe easier for a long time. Yet he’s also been making them laugh, singing them songs, comforting their families, and providing a level of care and compassion that this year earned him a prestigious honor.
The PHIL Award, presented annually to a respiratory therapist (RT) at L+M or Westerly Hospital, recognizes the “unsung heroes” who move throughout medical units each day ensuring patients get breathing treatments and other forms of pulmonary care. The nationally recognized award celebrates clinical excellence, but also an RT’s compassion, empathy and dedication to colleagues.
As the L+M RT team gathered recently for the surprise announcement of this year’s winner, Donna Villano, director of Cardiopulmonary Services, RT and Sleep Center, read highlights from multiple nominations. She never mentioned a name, but other RTs glanced toward Ellis as if they knew.
“He has a calming presence and really knows his stuff,” stated one nomination. “He often picks up on small things that may have nothing to do with respiratory care. He is a great teacher both with the patient and the family. He displays great pride in his work and brings comedy relief often; he has a great sense of humor and a great rapport with the team.”
“He is a huge asset to this hospital,” another nomination stated. “He's kind and very giving of himself.”
Others noted that Ellis often receives rave reviews from patients and their families. One last nomination summed it up, stating, “He embodies the qualities of professional excellence, compassion and advocacy that the PHIL Award was created to honor.”
The award, established by The FACES Foundation in 2006, was named in memory of Philip C. Lamka, a patient who passed away but experienced vital support from RTs during treatment. The PHIL Award is the only hospital-based recognition program in the United States dedicated exclusively to respiratory therapists.
