black history month employee spotlight

What is the reason you chose to pursue a profession in health care?

I chose the nursing profession early in my young adult life with a passion to help others in their times of need. I relish being able to assist others in their healing process as well as other natural processes. Servantship is my passion in life and my potential is actualized through promoting other’s wellbeing.

Tell us briefly about the journey that led you to this field.

I began my nursing career as a nurse tech while completing my formal nurse training at Columbia State.  Age the age of 20, I began my first professional nurse role. Over the first two decades of my career, nurse roles progressed from staff nurse to charge nurse to nurse manager. I later furthered my education with bachelor’s degree of nursing (1192), Master of Arts in Management (1999) and master’s degree in Nursing (2016). I acquired Critical Care Nurse certification in 1992 and maintained this certification for over 30 years.  My educator role began in the mid-1990s as a nurse manager with the training of the personnel I lead to ensure their competence at the bedside. These initiatives lead me to the nurse educator role for which I have held for the latter two decades of my career. I have conducted training in multiple aspects of nursing and other professional education and served as adjunct for several colleges with prospective nursing students. With the role of nurse educator, I believe knowledge is power and my role is to impart this knowledge to my peers. The most rewarding moments have been that instant when you have been teaching some specific content not easily embraced and you realized the learner just made that intended connection. Those moments are what helped my embrace this role as my niche in the nursing profession.

In your own words, describe why diversity, equity and inclusion are so vital to an organization’s success.

Equality can only occur with diversity and inclusion. Diversity in the workplace and community can ensure we give opportunities to the many individuals who may be unlike us. Diversity includes aspects of race, gender, religion, geographic location, and almost every entity of life. It is essential to understand that the differences with beliefs and culture of those individuals who are within a larger subset of people as well as those incremental differences within similar subsets. Inclusion ensures we allow all persons an unapologetic voice to appropriately address needs and concerns of goodwill and intent. Diversity and inclusion are critical to understanding all facets that should accentuate our daily lives.

Given the opportunity, what would you tell your younger self?

Become involved in all aspects that govern and regulate your professional and any policies that impact it structure.

What is the reason you chose to pursue a profession in health care?

The reason that I chose to pursue a profession in healthcare is because I love interacting and helping others. Job security and stability is also high on the list.

Tell us briefly about the journey that led you to this field.

I worked in optical services for close to 10 years and after meeting my wife I just needed a change with a more stable schedule. I applied for the job back in 2015 as a patient services representative in a primary care clinic and then applied and was offered my current position in 2017. It has been one of the best decisions I have ever made.

In your own words, describe why diversity, equity and inclusion are so vital to an organization’s success.

DEI is important because it is simply the right thing to do. Employees of all backgrounds want to feel valued for who they are and what they bring to an organization. An organization should want to increase employee morale and in hopes of instilling the desire to be more effective and work more efficiently. Ensuring that DEI efforts are in place also has the potential to increase revenue, customer base and ultimately profits. It is good to remember that an organization is only as good as the people that they employ.

What is the reason you chose to pursue a profession in health care?

For 18 years, I have worked in the Imaging Department as a Radiologic Technologist. I have always had a passion for helping people and making a difference in the lives of others. In health care, I have the opportunity of helping people in what can sometimes be the most vulnerable and lowest points in their lives.

Tell us briefly about the journey that led you to this field.

Right out of high school, I did not know exactly what that looked like as a profession. At that time, my mother worked with someone whose wife had a profession in Imaging. He mentioned to my mom that his wife enjoyed what she was doing and that I should inquire about the field of radiology. Upon doing my research and speaking with the program director of Radiology at Columbia State Community College, I decided to pursue a career in Radiology.

I applied for the Radiology program at Columbia State and immediately began working on the required classes that were needed. The program at Columbia State is very competitive and they only accept, on average, 25 students. I had to sit for an extensive interview process for acceptance into the program. After the interview, I received my acceptance letter and successfully completed the program. In addition to Radiology, I am also licensed in mammography and I hold a bachelor’s degree in management and human relations, which I obtained from Trevecca Nazarene University.

In your own words, describe why diversity, equity and inclusion are so vital to an organization’s success.

We would all like to say it is our similarities, or what we have in common, that make up an organization’s structure. In reality, it is our differences, such as our cultural and ethnic backgrounds that will cause us to stretch our thinking and grow in many areas. That is why diversity, equity and inclusion are vital to an organization’s success. Without these key components, an organization will miss out on opportunities to grow and use their team members’ innovative abilities. When diversity, equity and inclusion are present in an organization, you will have an increase in job satisfaction, higher levels of trust and involved team members. It takes diversity, equity and inclusion of people from all walks of life to propel the projection of an organization further.

Given the opportunity, what would you tell your younger self?

Given the opportunity, I would tell my younger self; if you never go, you will never know. Do not let fear hold you back but use it as a motivator. Fear will cause life and great opportunities to pass you by. Acknowledge the fear and jump in headfirst! Everything you want is on the other side of fear!

What is the reason you chose to pursue a profession in health care?

My 35-year journey as a nurse began long before I actually became a nurse. For as long as I can remember, I have always desired to make people feel better, whether physically, emotionally, mentally or spiritually.

Tell us briefly about the journey that led you to this field.

Throughout my career, I have had the privilege to extend care in numerous areas of nursing and to a diverse group of people from all ages, races, ethnicities, socioeconomic status, etc. I've learned that everyone has the desire and the right to feel better when they are sick. I am so grateful to care for people from all walks of life. It is important as nurses that we extend our care and compassion to all people, regardless of our differences. My desire and efforts have always been to treat everyone with respect and to treat my co-workers and my patients as I would want myself and my loved ones to be treated.   

In your own words, describe why diversity, equity and inclusion are so vital to an organization’s success.

It is vital for our organizations to employ a diverse group of people because we care for such a diverse group of people. No person should feel left out because of their differences. Everyone should be treated with the same respect. Everyone should be included, because everyone brings something to the table when caring for our patients.

What is the reason you chose to pursue a profession in health care?

What is the reason you chose to pursue a profession in health care?

I chose to bring my training into the healthcare field because there are so many career path opportunities within the health care industry. Biomedical expertise touch nearly every aspect of a hospital so I enjoy being connected to so many departments.

Tell us briefly about the journey that led you to this field.

After graduating from Central High, I was accepted into the biomed program at ITT Technical Institute. It was a 4-year program, after which I was quickly brought on by Rome Electronics as a quality engineer. To further my career, I chose not to relocate to their headquarters in California and took a job with United Medical Systems. This move allowed me to realize I could help change patients’ lives by using my expertise to maintain and service hospital equipment. 

In your own words, describe why diversity, equity and inclusion are so vital to an organization’s success.

Maury Regional has the privilege of being the central hub for multiple counties with varying diverse communities. I feel that I am connected with not only people in this county, but all surrounding counties, by being an integral part of this system and all the patients we impact. It is important, in my opinion, for all these diverse communities to feel as though they have an advocate within the hospital walls with whom they can relate.

Given the opportunity, what would you tell your younger self?

Never stop learning. Knowledge will always move you forward. Keep reaching for the stars.