#2025UMMCGrad: Experience leads to innovation for Liza Owens

Published on Monday, May 5, 2025

By: Danny Barrett, dlbarrett@umc.edu

Photos By: Jay Ferchaud, jferchaud@umc.edu

Caring for patients during a full-time shift is an education by itself – a truth Liza Owens has known for years, coming from a family of health care professionals.  

Her pursuit of a master’s in the Health Systems Administration program in the School of Health Related Professions that will culminate in her graduation May 23 is proof she’s put that reality to work for herself.  

“I wanted to learn more about the health care field beyond just being a respiratory therapist, and in particular about going into an administration role,” said Owens, 41, a registered respiratory therapist who works as a tracheostomy educator in University Hospital. “So, I chose to go back and get a master’s in health administration.” 

By day last fall, she trained nurses as well as worked with patients and their families after any kind of condition or accident that results in a tracheostomy. “It can be any upper airway obstruction or a prolonged amount of time on a ventilator. If they had an accident of any kind and they’re unable to protect their airway, they’ll put a trach in,” she said.  

In between shifts this past calendar year, she took coursework in health care leadership development that will help her further her career and better manage others who’ve begun their own journey in the profession. 

“With this degree, it will help me become a better manager,” she said. “I was a night supervisor for six years, which had already given me different perspectives on being a manager. I’m now learning about how to deal with different attitudes, personalities, situations and communication with people in general. I want to be the kind of manager someone can come and talk to if they need help.”    

A Greenville native, Owens grew up learning the importance of compassion in patient care – her father and one brother are also respiratory therapists, while her mother is a registered nurse. A second brother is an anesthesiologist. The labors of love involved with quality patient care also extends to the more mundane functions of her job, such as proper documentation methods, which is the subject of her final project in her master’s program. 

“Once settings are changed on a ventilator, orders should also be updated in Epic,” she said. “As respiratory therapists, any order we see in Epic dictates how the ventilator should be set. Minimizing complications with the process means the faster the patient can leave our unit and move on to what we call step-down care.” 

For her faculty advisors, those problem-solving skills are just a little bit of what makes Owens an exceptional student. 

“She exemplifies excellence in our program,” said Dr. Amber Palmer, assistant professor in the Department of Health Sciences and Liza’s faculty advisor. “Her determination, proactive approach and commitment to her studies shine through in her work. She consistently goes above and beyond, embodying the qualities we value in our students.” 

Those for whom she’s worked aren’t surprised by her success in the classroom.  

“As one of her past supervisors in the adult hospital, I can attest to her remarkable career here at UMMC,” said Dr. Driscoll DeVaul, assistant dean of academic affairs and an assistant professor in the BHSA program. “As a student, she has gained valuable insights into leadership principles, health education and the evolving role of health care in society.”