A local charity has appointed an asthma and pulmonary disease educator to its team.

Open Airways welcomed Nicola MacDougall, who holds a Master of Science degree in Physiotherapy.

Ms MacDougall is the charity’s asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease educator.

A spokeswoman for Open Airways said: “Nicola has been unofficially part of the Open Airways team for many years as she has served in the volunteer capacity, receiving its Volunteer of the Year award in 2013 for her outstanding contributions to the organisation.

“Nicola brings over 17 years of clinical experience to her role as a physiotherapist. She has worked extensively with asthma and COPD patients across inpatient, outpatient and community-based settings, most recently serving as a senior physiotherapist at Bermuda Hospitals Board.”

In 2015, Ms MacDougall earned a diploma in asthma from the UK’s Education for Health organisation.

She will work alongside Lindsay Bishop, the Open Airways director of education, to support and expand the organisation’s educational programmes for those living with asthma and/or COPD.

The spokeswoman added: “Together they will continue to provide free, personalised one-on-one patient consultations and deliver interactive asthma and COPD workshops to workplaces, community groups and clubs across the island.

“Additionally, they will lead annual ‘Best Practice Update’ workshops for healthcare professionals and their teams. These sessions, tailored for doctors, nurses, pharmacists and physiotherapists, offer training on the most up-to-date, internationally recognised guidelines for asthma and COPD care.

“The goal is to ensure patients across Bermuda receive the most current and effective treatments available.”

Mary Ellen Ewles, the executive director of Open Airways, said: “With Nicola joining us, Open Airways will be better equipped to support even more individuals in understanding their respiratory conditions and living healthier, more active lives.”

Ms Ewles also highlighted that the November 2024 gold guidelines for COPD now recognise spirometry testing as the most effective method for diagnosing the condition.

Open Airways will soon introduce spirometry testing as part of its services.

Ms MacDougall holds an Association for Respiratory Technology and Physiology Spirometry certification, obtained in 2018 and renewed in 2022 and 2025.

Ms Ewles added: “We are thrilled to welcome Nicola to our team as she joins us in our mission of helping Bermuda breathe.”

Anyone interested in a free one-on-one consultation with the charity’s educators can call 536-6060 or e-mail educ@openairways.com.