What is your current position in the department?
My title is patient billing/services rep in the Division of Adult Audiology at Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital. I work primarily as an administrative assistant, but I will do whatever a patient needs me to do for them.
How long have you been with Washington University and with the Department of Otolaryngology?
As of this month, I have been with WashU 30 years. I’ve worked in the Department of Otolaryngology for 21 of those 30 years and in the division of adult audiology for about five years. I previously worked in neurology as an electroencephalography (EEG) technician and moved to otolaryngology in 1999.
What do you like best about your job?
I really enjoy being able to help our patients with whatever they need. They are all so pleasant and grateful for everything we do for them. I also appreciate getting to know them better over the years and developing a rapport with them.
What is the most memorable work experience you’ve had working in audiology?
Probably the most memorable experience was with a patient who had come in for his first follow-up appointment after getting his first pair of hearing aids a couple weeks prior. I asked him how he was doing with them and he said, “When I left here with them last appointment, I was so surprised to actually hear birds again!” It was really nice to know how much we had made a difference in his life.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
In my spare time I like to read, play guitar, garden, watch movies, go out to eat and just putter around the house.
Do you have a favorite quote you’d like to share with us?
One of my favorite quotes is actually a song lyric from an obscure band called XTC. The line goes, “Life’s like a firework. You’re only lit once. And you must stand and radiate correctly.” I take that to mean we should live life to the fullest.