Set to retire next month, Carol DeCoursey describes her time at WashU and lays out plans for enjoying her retirement. Please join us in congratulations and thanking her for many years of service.
How long have you been at Washington University?
I have worked for the university for almost 40 years. For the last 8.5 years, I have managed patient accounts for the Department of Otolaryngology. Before the University, I worked for a third-party administrator paying health insurance claims. A colleague at that insurance company kept telling me what a wonderful place WashU was, so I decided to apply and got a job working for the Department of Internal Medicine.
What do you like most about your work here?
I really like working for both providers and patients because it can be so challenging yet so very rewarding, and I have always loved a good challenge and finding a solution that benefits everyone.
What was your childhood like?
I am the baby of the family, as they say. I have three older brothers and one sister. My dad died just before I was born, so I was raised by my mom and my older siblings. My mother was a great role model, showing me that there is nothing you can’t do if you set your mind to it. I was born on the east coast in Trenton, New Jersey. I moved to Kansas City with a friend when I was just 18. That’s where I met my husband Kevin. We will be married 44 years this coming July.
What spare time activities bring you the most joy?
Playing with my grandsons and gardening are the two activities that bring me the most joy. I must like watching things grow!
Is there a special something at the top of your bucket list, and why?
I was fortunate in high school to get the opportunity to go to Vienna. I would love to take my husband back there since that is where one of his grandmothers is from. It is a beautiful city.
Do you have a favorite indulgence?
Ice cream and chocolate – that goes without saying! But, also crocheting or sitting outside in nice weather with a glass of wine and a good book are opportunities I never pass up.
What would most surprise your colleagues to learn about you?
I used to bake and decorate cakes as a side business.
How do you plan to spend your time in retirement?
Kevin and I plan to relax and enjoy our new home in Kentucky, play with the grand kids, and of course, do some traveling. There are many places in the US that I still want to visit.