Nurse Practitioner Misty Vogt shares her love for learning and a secret passion for woodworking.
What is your current title and how long have you been with Oto?
My current title is Nurse Practitioner in the Division of Otology, a position I’ve held for only about 1.5 years. Prior to joining Washington University, I was with Mercy ENT for 12 years and ENT Associates at St. Luke’s for five years.
I love working in an academic setting and being able to learn new techniques and treatments that the other physicians are using. There is always someone around to bounce ideas off of for those difficult patients that we see in the clinic. It is a very different environment than working in private practice! I am honored to be working with such great surgeons.
I always knew I wanted to work in the medical field. I started out in college with a biology/physics major with my goal being medical school but changed my major to nursing my junior year. Being a nurse practitioner gives me the ability to care for patients and gives me the work/life balance I was looking for.
What was your childhood like?
I grew up in a very small town in southeast Missouri, with my parents and one sister that is eight years younger than me. If you can picture most of the country songs that talk about corn fields and back road driving, that is where I’m from. I left for college and kept moving north. My husband, Kyle, is from St. Louis, so this has been home for almost 24 years.
What spare time activities bring you the most joy?
Ha! Not sure I have much spare time in my life right now! We have two daughters, Sidney, 13, and Ella, 15. Most of my spare time is spent watching my oldest daughter play soccer or softball, so I’m usually sitting at a field somewhere. Thankfully the other daughter hates sports and is into music.
I also enjoy working out but that is usually done in the mornings before work.
I love to read but considering I am usually driving around most evenings I don’t get to do it often. I will usually binge read a few books on vacation or if I have a quiet weekend. It is really hard for me to unwind and sit still. I like to stay busy!
Do you have a favorite quote or words of wisdom you strive to live by?
I have always told my girls to find something you love doing and that will make a difference in someone’s life. That is probably my words of wisdom that I would give to almost anyone.
Is there a special something at the top of your bucket list, and why?
I love to travel to different places. The top of the list would be Australia. I would love to see a kangaroo in its natural habitat. Maybe someday!
What would most surprise your colleagues to learn about you?
I love doing woodworking projects. I put in my ear buds and no one bothers me because they don’t want to help! I have built fireplaces, tables, built-in cabinetry, and decorative molding in my house. I am a very impatient person so I would rather do it myself than wait for someone else to do it.