Health and Wellness General Student Life

Respiratory Care student celebrates birthday as MSU Texas grad

Andy Newberry
02 June 2025
4 min read

Wendy Romero will never forget her 32^nd birthday. That’s because May 17, 2025, was the day she walked the stage at D.L. Ligon Coliseum for the Spring 2025 Commencement ceremonies at Midwestern State University.

“Graduating was not just a celebration of my accomplishments but also of the hard work we put in as a family to reach this point,” Romero said. “Walking across that stage was the best birthday present I could have asked for.”

Wendy was born in Barranquilla, Colombia, but mostly grew up in Miami, Florida. She has previously worked as a medical assistant in Utah, Florida, and Texas. She says it has been her privilege to serve low-income, uninsured, and medically underserved communities, which deepened her dedication to providing accessible, high-quality care. “My clinical rotations broadened my perspective on community-based healthcare and reinforced my commitment to addressing healthcare disparities, particularly in pediatric settings,” Romero said.

Before coming to MSU Texas, she graduated summa cum laude in 2011 from Miami Lakes Educational Center and graduated cum laude in 2017 from Stevens-Henager College in Ogden, Utah, with an Associate of Occupational Studies in Medical Specialties. Romero plans to pursue a master’s degree in public health and become a certified asthma educator.

“My passion lies in reducing healthcare disparities and helping families, especially those in underserved communities, to better manage chronic respiratory conditions like asthma,” she said. “This degree represents more than just academic success – it’s a commitment to improving care, access, and education in the communities that need it most.”

Those closest to her meant the most on this journey, she said. “My husband (Sgt. Rodger Myers) and children (Lucas and Camila) were my patients when I needed to practice my skills. They helped me study for exams and listened to my presentations. My husband managed the household whenever I was in a different city for clinical rotations. My children have shown their strength and resilience throughout my time at MSU, even occasionally accompanying me to class,” Romero said.

And family was the reason she became so passionate about this field.

“My husband was diagnosed with asthma a few years before we moved to Wichita Falls, and we struggled to manage his symptoms,” she said.

Before she came to MSU Texas, she worked as a medical assistant at Community Healthcare Center and worked directly with a nurse practitioner, Hanh May, a Spring 2008 MSU Texas grad who had an impact on her life. “She always told me I was meant for more, and she encouraged me to continue my education and take that next step in my career,” Romero said.

Others like Randy Case, associate professor of respiratory care, had a hand in changing her mind from majoring in nursing to respiratory care. She felt that was a calling she couldn’t ignore. “Everything I have learned during my time at MSU, along with the guidance of Dr. Satish Chada (physician at Critical Care Specialists of North Texas), has made an enormous difference in managing my husband's asthma and improving his quality of life,” she said.

Wendy Romero at graduation day at D.L. Ligon Coliseum — Wendy Romero smiles after receiving her diploma from Midwestern State University at the Spring 2025 Commencement at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. (Logan Spikes/MSU Texas)

In the respiratory care program, she enjoyed visiting various clinical sites in Wichita Falls, Dallas, and Oklahoma City, which provided a broadened perspective of operating different equipment and techniques. She said the professors at MSU Texas are great at assisting students, and upperclassmen were available for tutoring. She added, “However, you need to be willing to ask for help.”

Romero saw the value in advancing the profession while at MSU Texas. After participating in a focus group for students with the Texas Society for Respiratory Care, she was asked to serve as the secretary for the inaugural TSRC Student Council. “I have collaborated with other remarkable students from across Texas to engage with students as we help guide their early careers. I have had the opportunity to moderate webinars, speak at events, attend conferences, and meet many exceptional students and respiratory therapists from across the country. I have had extraordinary mentors who have helped guide my journey and have practically become family. I am incredibly grateful to my professors and husband for encouraging me to step outside of my comfort zone and participate in new activities.”

She followed Case’s encouragement to participate in the Children’s Medical Center externship. And that only furthered her passion for “working with children and solidifying my aspiration to specialize as a neonatal-pediatric respiratory therapist, empowering families to advocate for and care for their children,” Romero said.

Her mission is to go out and help others. Her time at Centennial Hall and MSU Texas helped prepare her to do that. “I spent most of my time in Centennial Hall, whether it was in the respiratory lab on the second floor, studying in the atrium, or just stopping by my professors’ offices on the fourth floor. I can’t really say I had a specific favorite professor, as they were all wonderful during my time in the program.”