The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) congratulates Respira Inc, one of the nation’s fastest growing providers of clinical respiratory services, for being awarded a $10 million contract through the Department of Defense (DOD) United States Army Medical Command. The 5-year DOD contract will support the Sleep Disorder Clinic at Walter Reed National Medical Center (WRNMMC) in Bethesda, Md. Y. Maria Martinez, founder and CEO of Respira Inc, is a member of the USHCC Board of Directors.

Founded in 2001, Respira Inc is a $10 million respiratory, sleep medicine, and home medical equipment company that serves over 60,000 patients worldwide. As part of the performance triad by the Army Surgeon General, Respira will serve to improve the health, readiness, and resilience for United States military personnel.

“The USHCC is thrilled to see Maria leading the charge in the success of Respira as the company grows on a global scale, across the private and public sectors. As a trailblazing Latina business owner, compassionately dedicated to our citizens’ health, Maria has been a remarkable leader for her company and example for our country,” says USHCC president and CEO Javier Palomarez, in a release. “We are proud to see a member of our board of directors positively impacting army medicine and redefining our nation’s clinical care.”

In the first award of its kind by the DOD, Respira Inc will provide high quality medical care to the armed forces through specially designed compliance programs, innovative CPAP devices, respiratory therapy, and clinical research in the area of sleep medicine. In addition, Respira will support the Sleep Medicine Fellowship Training program, a 1-year training opportunity for army, navy, and air force medical corps who have completed their residency in internal medicine, pediatrics, neurology, family medicine, or psychiatry.