ABOUT HEATHER JOY
Respiratory Therapist. Author. Advocate. Speaker.
Heather Joy is a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT), trauma survivor, and advocate for systemic change whose career bridges critical care, pulmonary rehabilitation, and healthcare leadership.
Trained in high-acuity respiratory management and ECMO, Heather has spent years reading the smallest shifts in breath and stability, guiding patients and families through some of medicine’s most urgent and vulnerable moments. She also brings a strong operational lens to healthcare, with experience in respiratory program development, hospital revenue optimization, and billing and reimbursement strategy, including CPT and ICD-10 proficiency.
ADVOCACY
Advocacy & Stand Tall
Outside the hospital, Heather is the Founder and Director of Stand Tall, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting survivors of sexual assault. Her advocacy includes helping victims navigate the legal system and educating medical personnel and students on trauma-aware patient communication — especially in the aftermath of sexual violence.
Her work is grounded in a belief she carries into every story she writes and every room she enters:
“Voice is breath, and silence is not safety.”
RESILIENCE
A Story of Resilience
Heather’s personal journey is one of profound resilience. She has spoken openly about surviving sexual assault and the complex realities of trauma bonding, hypervigilance, and the long tail of PTSD symptoms that can linger long after the crisis has passed. Instead of allowing those experiences to shrink her world, Heather transformed them into purpose.
Her mission is to help others reclaim their voice, rebuild self-trust, and find forward motion in the messy, nonlinear work of healing. She writes, speaks, and advocates so survivors know they are not alone — and that healing is possible, even when the path is anything but straightforward.
SPEAKING
Speaker & Storyteller
Heather is a dynamic public speaker and storyteller with a rare ability to translate complex trauma, healthcare challenges, and personal resilience into narratives audiences can truly carry with them. Her talks blend clarity, compassion, and lived experience, making difficult topics accessible, human, and deeply resonant.
Whether she’s speaking to healthcare professionals, leadership teams, advocacy organizations, or community groups, Heather delivers practical insight with honesty and hope. She meets audiences where they are — and leaves them with tools they can use long after the event ends.
Her social media presence, including a community of more than 130,000 TikTok followers, reflects her signature balance: humor and humanity paired with hard truths and actionable wisdom. She brings the same authenticity to the stage, creating spaces where people feel seen, supported, and empowered to speak their own truths.
EDUCATION
Educator & Advocate
Through keynote presentations, workshops, advocacy initiatives, and educational outreach, Heather helps individuals and organizations deepen their understanding of trauma, resilience, mental health, and trauma-informed communication. Her teaching blends clinical expertise with lived experience, creating space for honest conversations that lead to real change.
Heather’s work is grounded in both professional knowledge and personal truth. She brings these perspectives together to spark meaningful dialogue, foster healing, and equip communities with tools that create lasting impact.
AUTHOR
Author of The Weight of Air
Heather is the author of her debut memoir, The Weight of Air, an unflinching account of navigating professional and personal trauma during the COVID-19 pandemic. Written for healthcare workers, survivors of abuse, and anyone who has ever felt trapped by trauma or silence, the book serves as both a witness statement and a lifeline — a reminder that healing is possible, that you are not alone, and that even after the darkest seasons, strength can return.
Through her writing and speaking, Heather continues the work she refuses to put down: educating, advocating, and helping people breathe again — literally and emotionally.