Periodically, the Temple Health Newsroom will recognize employees whose contributions to the health system exemplify its mission and values.
Patricia “Patty” Evans
Respiratory therapist
Manager, Pulmonary Function Lab
Manager, Bronchoscopy/Pulmonary Rehab
How long have you been with Temple Health?
I am retiring in June after 43 years in the system. I spent 30 years at the Jeanes Campus and the last 13 years have been at Main Campus.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
I like to believe that, each day, I am making a difference in someone’s life. There are too many to remember them all. I’ll tell you this — When a lung-transplant recipient comes back and they say, “Thank you for saving my life,” or when I receive emails from a patient who received their new lungs, it’s so wonderful. I always share these moments with the staff because the patients and the positive outcomes are what drive our work.
Is there a single moment that’s been most rewarding?
Last year, in 2025, the Lung Center performed 179 lung transplants. It was the most in the history of Temple Health and it was the most performed by any health system in the nation. That moment was truly special because it was one we all could celebrate. We achieved it together.
How would your colleagues describe you?
I’ve dedicated my career to being patient-first. I’m a people-person — I enjoy having that patient contact in the clinical setting and helping when needed. I’ve always enjoyed working with our team for the next challenge and project.
What makes Temple Health a special place?
For me, it’s about the people. At every stage of my career, I have had great support, great teams, committed direct reports, and leadership. There are too many to name them one by one. But I am also grateful for Hernan Alvarado, our associate vice president of Respiratory Care and Sleep Medicine, and Anoop George, the Director of Pulmonary services operations. I’ve known Abhi Rastogi, our President and CEO, for years and years.
Administration has always cared about our well-being and our professional development. They know your name and they ask about your family; they listen to your feedback and look for ways to apply it. I’ve also worked with many wonderful and genuine people and, for these reasons, I've never had a desire to leave. I work with plenty of others who are what I’d call “long-timers” or “lifers” here for those same reasons.