Q & A with Carol Rose

We are pleased to revisit this Q & A with Carol Rose as she announces her retirement after 27 years with the department. Join us in thanking Carol for her many years of service and her devotion to staff achievement and patient care. Carol, we hope the retirement years are anything but quiet.

What did you enjoy most during your career in the Department of Otolaryngology?

I enjoyed the variety of tasks that I have been allowed to explore throughout my career in Otolaryngology.  I feel I have learned more about myself and how to approach each day as a new day.  There are so many relationships that will not end when I leave the department. One in particular is with Ellie Jones who offered me the opportunity to join the department along with Carolyn Carbery and Maria Harrington.  We all started in the department within months of each other.  We will stay connected forever.

Do you have any special plans for retirement?

My husband and I are planning to travel and seek out all of God’s beauty across the country.  My favorite saying is, “Life is like a camera. Just focus on what’s important, capture the good times, develop from the negative, and if things don’t work out,  just take another shot.”  I am looking forward to taking my camera and taking those shots. I will be spending more time with my family and friends to make everlasting memories.

How do you stay positive during challenging times?

COVID has been a real life challenge for everyone. Moving our clinic into our new space during this pandemic was a stressful time, but we survived as a team, and we are so proud of our new beautiful space. We get to see more patients which is what we enjoy the most. I have been very blessed to work with an amazing gifted staff.  Our motto is: Tough times don’t last though teams do!

Do you have any tips or wisdom you’d like to share with Oto staff?

Working at WashU has many benefits, so take advantage of them.  Stay flexible and enjoy whatever comes your way, and remember, tomorrow is day one.

Carol was one of our first staff Q&A newsletter stories:

What is your role in the department?

I currently serve as Office Manager over our West County offices. That includes two clinics at Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital, and the Center for Hearing and Balance at St. Luke’s Hospital. That means I get to travel a lot, and I do whatever it takes to make sure each clinic runs smoothly. I oversee clinic staff and fill in as needed. We have tried to set high standards for best practices and clinic uniformity in order to provide the best patient experience possible.

What did you do prior to your current position?

I started 26 years ago as secretary to Dr. Gail Neely. Over the years I have also served as manager of the secretaries, been responsible for the department newsletter and website, and even done some marketing. I have worn a lot of different hats over the past couple decades.

Is there one particular accomplishment you are most proud of?

I am most proud of the secretaries and clinic staff that I have hired and helped train. They are devoted to their physicians and they get along really well. They never hesitate to help each other out when needed. Remarkably, we have virtually zero turnover in this group. That is something very special and quite unique at this institution. You might think I’m proud of that as an accomplishment on my part, but I am genuinely proud of each of them. It’s their accomplishment, and one that is confirmed by a couple of Star Performer Awards.

Who is Carol Rose when she’s not traveling from clinic to clinic?

I am a wife of 41 years, mother to three, and GiGi (grandmother) to five. I enjoy crafting, golf, traveling, and visiting wineries with family and friends. I get the most joy from spending time with family. Retirement is approaching, and I hope to spend more time traveling when that day finally arrives.