Q: What is your role at TKA? Describe what you do day-to-day
A: I am a CBET & Biomedical Equipment Tech III onsite at Valley Children’s Hospital located in the heart of California in Madera, CA. I repair and maintain a variety of medical equipment according to manufacturer’s specification and guidelines on a daily basis.
In 2013, I had the opportunity to obtain the Level 1 training in ECMO. Our PICU department currently owns five of these ECMO heart-lung machines which are used to save patients’ lives when their heart or lung(s) have failed them and conventional therapy is no longer working. As the only technician certified, I work closely with the PICU ECMO team to coordinate the required maintenance in order to make sure the devices are always safe and functioning properly.
Q: How long have you been with TKA and why did you choose this profession?
A: I graduated in 2003 from Stanly Community College in Albemarle, North Carolina with a AS in Biomedical Equipment Technology and with a certificate in Electronics. I have been a Biomed tech for over 16 years with the last 3 years working for TKA and I love it!
I decided to get into Biomed because I have kids myself and I wanted to make sure that kids are in a safe environment when they come to the hospital. I want to give them the best quality care so they have the best chance in life.
Q: What are 3 words to describe your team?
A: Family. Supportive. Hard-working.
Q: What is the best part of your job?
A: The best part of my job is that I get to enjoy new challenges every day. Things aren’t black and white in this being a technician in this field with many ways to solve a problem and I enjoy figuring out the best and most efficient way to accomplish that. I also have my work family here to support me and work through the challenges as a team.
Q: What has been your proudest moment working at TKA?
A: I am very proud of the work I’ve done with the ECMO program at Valley Children’s Hospital which received the Valley Children’s Excellence Award in 2017 and the International ELSO (Extracorporeal Life Support Organization) Pathway to Excellence Award recently in 2019. These are the awards received since the inception of the ECMO program and I am proud to be a part of that journey and the success of this program.
Awards aside, me being able to see kids who came in ill getting ready to go home to their families is always a proud moment. It’s a team effort between us, the doctors, nurses and the entire staff. As a parent, no one wants to see their child in the hospital and so that’s always my proudest moment.
Q: What motivates you to wake up and go to work?
A: Knowing that what you’re doing is giving a child a chance to get healed and go home. I give 110% everyday knowing that I did the best I can.
Q: What is something that most people don’t know about you?
A: I attend church and that is where I draw a lot of my emotional and spiritual growth from. I also work full-time along with being a full-time mom, raising 3 kids with my husband. I have so much to give — I never want to stop giving and helping others.
Q: How do you define success?
A: Success to me is being prepared for the everyday challenges that come my way. I’m hoping that I can make a positive impact on others.
