Putting kids first means making sure children can get expert respiratory care when they need it. That’s becoming more challenging, as children’s hospitals struggle to recruit and retain pediatric respiratory therapists. Norton Children’s developed a workforce strategy that creates a pipeline of future specialists. Through two innovative programs, the hospital is preparing the next generation of respiratory experts. An apprenticeship program brings students who are pursuing respiratory therapy into the hospital to observe patients, learn equipment and gas safety, and gain critical hands-on experience. The second program begins after graduation. The 10-month program gives newly licensed therapists advanced pediatric training through classroom instruction, high-fidelity simulation, and clinical rotations, preparing them for the most complex critical-care cases. Together, these programs help Norton Children’s grow its pediatric respiratory workforce and ensure access to expert care for kids. To put kids first, we must invest in the future of pediatric care and strengthen access to specialized services — and hospitals like Norton Children’s are doing exactly that.