Leonard Mugadili, Assistant Professor

Leonard Mugadili was born on a farm in western Kenya, where he grew crops and raised livestock. It was on this farm that his love for life science and fascination with biological systems began. He did his primary and secondary school education before immigrating to the United States. He studied at Truman College in Chicago and graduated with an Associate Degree in Biotechnology. He transferred to the University of Illinois, Chicago, where he majored in biology and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. He was pursuing education at the University of Illinois at the time when he joined a genome sequencing project and joined fibrogenenic incorporation, a start-up in Chicago Technology Park that was part of the genome project as a research assistant in cell culture, DNA sequencing, and protein purification.

The future of biotechnology was very promising, but his lab job was lonely and devoid of human contacts; he wanted more human contact. He left fibrogenesis and joined Olive-Harvey College, where he studied and graduated with an associate degree in applied science, respiratory therapy. He worked with Advocate Trinity Hospital as a respiratory therapist, where he helped patients with breathing problems. Later, he joined Rush University Medical Center, where he worked as a critical care and charge respiratory therapist. While at RUMC, he joined Rush University graduate school, where he graduated with a Master of Health Science in Respiratory Care. He worked at Abdul Aziz Medical City, a National Guard hospital in Saudi Arabia, as a critical care therapist and preceptor. He is currently a licensed respiratory therapist in the State of Illinois and certified in the following: Certification in Respiratory Therapy (CRT), Registered Respiratory Therapy (RRT), Neonatal, Pediatric Specialist (NPS), and Adult Critical Care Specialist (ACCS). He is currently an assistant professor at St Augustine College at Lewis University and enjoys passing the clinical academic and lived experience to the next generation of respiratory therapist.

As respiratory therapist we specialize in assessing, diagnosing, and treating with people who have trouble breathing due to varies respiratory disorders. such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, pneumonia, emphysema, chest trauma or lung cancer. I find deep sense of pe satisfaction by helping patients with breathing difficulties breath better regain their quality of life. The role is challenging and rewarding, providing daily opportunities to positively impact lives.

“We make an impact on someone else’s life, one breath at a time”