Balancing parenthood and career as a respiratory therapist at Northside Hospital Cherokee

Meet Luis Oliva, a registered respiratory therapist at Northside Hospital Cherokee who manages the demands of raising a young family and his career as a Respiratory Therapist by prioritizing time for togetherness.

Oliva gave Access Atlanta a peek into his life for our Day in the Life feature — check out our Instagram reel and keep reading for details on his career with Northside and his favorite metro-Atlanta spots.

As a father, husband, and respiratory therapist, Oliva considers work-life balance to be a high priority. His flexible schedule at Northside Hospital Cherokee allows him and his wife Miranda, who is also a respiratory therapist at the same hospital, to schedule time for relaxing at home and family activities with their two-year-old daughter.

“When I graduated, during COVID-19, every hospital was hiring. I applied to Northside, and they were willing to work with me. My leadership team has helped balance my schedule and my wifes, knowing we have a young child,” Oliva said.

Oliva Family.

Courtesy of Luis Oliva, Access Atlanta

A typical day for Oliva is to provide care and educate patients with pneumonia, asthma, COPD, COVID-19, the flu, and other respiratory and pulmonary diseases.

“We provide not only care but also education to patients so we can help prevent them from being readmitted to the hospital,” Oliva said.

The most rewarding part of Oliva’s role as a respiratory therapist is seeing patients who were once in critical care leave the hospital healthy. He has had several instances where he has received patients from the emergency department or intensive care unit only to see them on the hospital floor a week or two later, indicating they are stable enough to soon return to their homes and families.

“I think that’s the best feeling — knowing I made a positive impact on someone’s life by helping them through a difficult time,” Oliva said.

Northside Hospital is committed to supporting its employees by providing a comprehensive range of benefits. From paid time off (PTO), medical, dental, and vision plans, to maternity and paternity programs and various financial assistance options like a pension plan, 403b, and tuition reimbursement. Oliva values these benefits and the level of care provided by the hospital. Having experienced multiple healthcare facilities as a student, he recognizes the high level of teamwork and dedication shown by the Northside team in patient care.

“I don’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon,” Oliva said.

Oliva’s guide to his Atlanta:

Go-to restaurant: Fuego Tortilla in Marietta - “The birria tacos are unlike any others I’ve had before. Unreal!”

Best family spot: Froggy’s Family Entertainment Center in Rome - “Hanging out with my family is the best way to spend a day off. Our two-year-old is obsessed with Froggy’s, so that’s our typical go-to spot.”

Date nights: “We love going to concerts. We try to attend at least three a year. We also love going out to the movies or going to try new restaurants.”

Northside holds numerous hiring events each month. If you’re ready to #LookToNorthside, you can find out about their upcoming events HERE.

Northside Hospital: Look to Northside

Locations: Multiple locations; Website: jobs.northside.com; Social: LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor, Facebook, Instagram and Youtube; Contact: 404-851-8000