{"ItemType":0,"Id":32461,"Key":"3e9a381d-67cb-4bc9-870b-f36f0c3755b5","TemplateId":10142,"SortOrder":105,"Name":"Riley Townsend","DocumentTypeAlias":"somProfile","DocumentTypeId":5069,"WriterName":"algilmore","CreatorName":"algilmore","WriterId":210,"CreatorId":210,"Path":"-1,12641,13119,32461","CreateDate":"2026-05-07T09:21:45","UpdateDate":"2026-05-07T09:21:45","Version":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","UrlName":"riley-townsend","Level":3,"IsDraft":false,"Url":"http://medicine.wvu.edu/who-we-are/health-professions/riley-townsend/","hideFromSearch":false,"metaKeywords":"","pageTitle":"","navigationSettings":"","umbracoUrlName":"","metaDescription":"","navigationTitle":"","umbracoNaviHideChildren":false,"seoSettings":"","umbracoRequireSSL":false,"umbracoNaviHide":false,"auditNotes":"","auditStatus":"","campus":"Morgantown","firstName":"Riley","lastName":"Townsend","quote":"I had the amazing opportunity to work at WVU Medicine J.W. Ruby Memorial as a student respiratory therapist. This opportunity not only gave me more experience but also helped me find my voice and confidence when interacting in the hospital.","program":"Respiratory Therapy","newProfileImage":{"src":"/media/373692/untitled-9-2.png","focalPoint":{"left":0.5,"top":0.5},"crops":[{"alias":"Profile Image","width":1200,"height":675,"coordinates":null},{"alias":"Preview Image","width":420,"height":525,"coordinates":null}]},"transitionalYear":"","residencyLabel":"","fellowship":"","graduateLabel":"","fellowshipLabel":"","undergraduateLabel":"","undergraduateMajor":"Respiratory Therapy","graduateSchool":"","graduateMajor":"","specialHonors":"","graduationYear":2026,"residency":"","hometown":"Charlotte, North Carolina","undergraduateSchool":"West Virginia University ","position":"","mainContent":"<p><strong>What initially sparked your interest in respiratory therapy? </strong></p>\r\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I’ve always known I wanted to work in healthcare. My interest in respiratory therapy sprouted from my medical history of being delivered early and becoming a NICU baby with underdeveloped lungs.</span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\"> </span></p>\r\n<p><strong>Why did you choose to attend WVU and pursue respiratory therapy? </strong></p>\r\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I had a role model growing up, and he attended WVU. He always talked about how much he enjoyed his time at WVU. During my sophomore year of high school, we toured WVU and attended a football game. After driving around campus, WVU felt like home, and I knew I wanted to spend my college experience here.</span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\"> </span></p>\r\n<p><strong>Looking back, how did your time at WVU prepare you for the next step in your career? </strong></p>\r\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I was able to find who I truly am, and I made friends who brought out a different side of me. They encouraged me and built me up into the person I am today.</span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\"> </span></p>\r\n<p><strong>What experience had the biggest impact on you? </strong></p>\r\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I had the amazing opportunity to work at WVU Medicine J.W. Ruby Memorial as a student respiratory</span> <span data-contrast=\"auto\">therapist. This opportunity not only gave me more experience but also helped me find</span> <span data-contrast=\"auto\">my voice and confidence when interacting in the hospital.</span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\"> </span></p>\r\n<p><strong>What accomplishment are you most proud of from your time at WVU? </strong></p>\r\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I am most proud of myself for going out of my comfort zone. I became more and more</span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\"> </span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">social, made new friends, found new levels of confidence and found my voice. I’m</span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\"> </span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">proud of myself for growing throughout my time here.</span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\"> </span></p>\r\n<p><strong>What advice would you give to incoming or future WVU students? </strong></p>\r\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I would say definitely focus on school, but also have fun! I promise you those four years</span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\"> </span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">will be over way faster than you think.</span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\"> </span></p>\r\n<p><strong>How do you hope to make an impact in your career or community moving forward? </strong></p>\r\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I plan to be a respiratory therapist where patients feel relieved and excited when they realize I’m their caregiver for the shift. I plan to advocate for my patients, ensure they feel safe and feel confident in the care I am giving them. I plan to always better my knowledge so that my patients get the absolute best care possible.</span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\"> </span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\"> </span></p>\r\n<p><strong>What are your plans after graduation? </strong></p>\r\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I will be moving back home to Charlotte, North Carolina, and continuing my career at Levine Children’s Hospital. I am getting married in September, and we met at WVU! West Virginia University will always be my home, and I look forward to coming back to visit</span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. </span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\"> </span></p>"}
Meet the Grads

Riley Townsend

Respiratory Therapy
School of Medicine

I had the amazing opportunity to work at WVU Medicine J.W. Ruby Memorial as a student respiratory therapist. This opportunity not only gave me more experience but also helped me find my voice and confidence when interacting in the hospital.

What initially sparked your interest in respiratory therapy? 

I’ve always known I wanted to work in healthcare. My interest in respiratory therapy sprouted from my medical history of being delivered early and becoming a NICU baby with underdeveloped lungs. 

Why did you choose to attend WVU and pursue respiratory therapy? 

I had a role model growing up, and he attended WVU. He always talked about how much he enjoyed his time at WVU. During my sophomore year of high school, we toured WVU and attended a football game. After driving around campus, WVU felt like home, and I knew I wanted to spend my college experience here. 

Looking back, how did your time at WVU prepare you for the next step in your career? 

I was able to find who I truly am, and I made friends who brought out a different side of me. They encouraged me and built me up into the person I am today. 

What experience had the biggest impact on you? 

I had the amazing opportunity to work at WVU Medicine J.W. Ruby Memorial as a student respiratory therapist. This opportunity not only gave me more experience but also helped me find my voice and confidence when interacting in the hospital. 

What accomplishment are you most proud of from your time at WVU? 

I am most proud of myself for going out of my comfort zone. I became more and more social, made new friends, found new levels of confidence and found my voice. I’m proud of myself for growing throughout my time here. 

What advice would you give to incoming or future WVU students? 

I would say definitely focus on school, but also have fun! I promise you those four years will be over way faster than you think. 

How do you hope to make an impact in your career or community moving forward? 

I plan to be a respiratory therapist where patients feel relieved and excited when they realize I’m their caregiver for the shift. I plan to advocate for my patients, ensure they feel safe and feel confident in the care I am giving them. I plan to always better my knowledge so that my patients get the absolute best care possible.  

What are your plans after graduation? 

I will be moving back home to Charlotte, North Carolina, and continuing my career at Levine Children’s Hospital. I am getting married in September, and we met at WVU! West Virginia University will always be my home, and I look forward to coming back to visit.