Do employees of Loma Linda University Health feel the same way as graduates about their jobs being meaningful? We asked after Loma Linda University’s recent No. 1 national ranking for producing bachelor’s degree graduates who report that their job makes the world a better place.
The survey answers were glowing. Below are the responses to “My work makes the world a better place because …”
...of the domino effect. What I do here at the School of Public Health has an impact on our faculty, who have an impact on our students, who go out and impact the world! I left my previous job at a local medical group where I was making Redlands and the Inland Empire a better place, via direct patient contact, but after 21 years, I was given the chance to make an impact around the world. Coming back to Loma Linda University has given me that opportunity, and even though I've only been here for 9 months, I can see some things happening in Europe, Africa, and other parts of the world. It's an exciting time to be back and make a difference in public health, because public health and health care are changing rapidly! So what each faculty and staff person here in the School of Public Health does will definitely make this world a better place, especially as we emphasize the teaching and healing ministry of Jesus “to make man whole” around the world.
-Ernie Medina, executive director, Center for Nutrition, Healthy Lifestyle, & Disease Prevention, School of Public Health
The only workplace you're free to pray with your co-worker any time of the day.
-Lana Soli, purchasing agent, supply chain management
As we conduct research and create programs and projects around providing whole person care, patients, students, faculty, staff and clinical practitioners are positively impacted. Every day I am grateful to have a part in continuing the teaching and healing ministry of Jesus Christ in all that I do. It doesn't get better than changing lives!
-Kris Lozano, manager, Center for Spiritual Life and Wholeness
We are the best! We see our patients come in rolling themselves in wheelchairs and they soon start walking and running out of here. We see patients come in with amputations of the legs, and soon enough, they are walking out of here on prosthetic legs ... that we built ourselves! Children come in not being able to speak two words, and leave here telling me "see you next time Chelsie!" Not only the rehab, but our entire hospital is known so far and so wide for being so amazing. I am so proud to work for such a great place.
-Chelsie Blackmon, insurance verification representative, outpatient rehab
I get to help people do what they love. Many people go through life doing a job or going to school for something that they do not love, but for reasons like: it pays well, they just need a job, it's what their parents want them to do, etc. They stay in that role day in and day out. But when people volunteer they spend their time doing something that they love and something they are passionate about. It is amazing to be a part of that process for them. Also, as a volunteer coordinator, I get to on board, train and place many volunteers for our institutions. This alleviates some of the workload from staff and enhances our patients’ experience every day. From our baby snugglers to our clerical volunteers who assist with filing and answering phones to the golf cart drivers, what our volunteers do is amazing. Being a part of that is what makes my work make the world a better place.
-Stevieann Beach, volunteer coordinator, volunteer services
… because of the leadership in our office, the teamwork, and family values each and every one of us have in the PTO. We strive to make a difference in the children we see, trying to make their visit a better one. And [because] of the values — following Jesus Christ’s footsteps is the most rewarding of them all. We are able to show the love of God through us every day.
-Rosa Casarez, medical assistant, FMO PTO
Collecting cancer data is important not only to health agencies who use the data to find potential cancer clusters and their causes, but it is important to researchers who continue studying the possible causes of cancer. When I come to work, I know that in a very small way, I am contributing to the possible prevention, new treatments and control of cancer.
-Karen Koehn, manager, LLUMC Cancer Registry, Cancer Center
It allows me to begin the day with a brief devotion.
-Samir Sircar, accountant, payroll
The people I get to work with generally have hearts of gold. My work associates work here because they want to work here. I also get to meet the most amazing people who are giving back to Loma Linda by donating to further the causes of Loma Linda University Health. Yes, everyone is unique in their own way, but each one has found a way to support our institution usually locally, but also internationally through Adventist Health International or other affiliations. I am blessed to be a small part of the work here at Loma Linda University Health.
-Kevin Fischer, executive director, real estate management
I get the opportunity to help our community patients obtain the services they are in need of. I know I am impacting our patient's lives every day through my work with Loma Linda University Health. I love it.
-Jessica Moya, central authorization representative, central authorization department
I touch lives every day I go in to work. I help the hopeless find hope, I accept the rejected, I love those who have forgotten how to love themselves, and sometimes I am instrumental in people becoming clean and sober and maintaining that sobriety for years. With many of my patients I have been able to share the gospel of God's unconditional love for them and how He will never stop seeking them when they wander off. I can never actually know what our encounters mean to my patients, but I know of one life that is better for my doing this work — mine. My patients touch me, they call out compassion from me, and draw me closer to Christ as I engage in his Healing ministry with those same sinners that the Pharisees once rejected. Class of 1983, 1985, 2014
-John Elder, LLU alumnus, chemical dependency and recovery counselor III, addiction medicine, Kaiser Permanente in Fontana
I have been working at Loma Linda University Medical Center for 11 years with bereaved families. While working here, I went back to college and got my degree in criminal justice administration at the University of Phoenix. Working at my desk has been quite an experience. I've learned many things. Managing the death process at our facility, speaking to grieving families, being educated by our providers and understanding their language gives me the opportunity to give back to this community humbly. It is teaching me to be patient and grateful. I've learned to look at life differently. I appreciate more. So my work makes the world a better place because I move things gratefully and smoothly. After speaking to family members, they are assured, and they can move forward calmly.
-Carmen Ramirez, release of information specialist/decedent affairs, health information management
In the midst of so many things that separate human beings ... my job brings them closer! Communication is one of the most basic needs of humankind. It helps us to gain understanding, acceptance and validation of our feelings, and this is especially true when we are sick. As an interpreter, being able to connect a patient and a provider at times of a life-changing diagnosis, and doing it in a compassionate way, is a sacred privilege. At times, that life-changing diagnosis may come in the form of communicating a devastating outcome, but other times, we deliver the happy news that a long-waited miracle has happened. Living in this imperfect world and witnessing God’s healing of the soul, at times when healing of the body cannot be accomplished, is a humbling experience, and I love being part of that.
-Katya Campos, Spanish interpreter, language services
I feel that the work I am able to contribute in helping patients, coworkers, people and family members while doing the best job I can, being as compassionate as I can, helps everyone and contributes to making the world a healthier and better place.
-Brian Joyce, CT imaging specialist, radiology
We care for the elderly and persons with disabilities in our community every day, five days a week. Our day program provides therapeutic activities, medical monitoring, therapies, social services, spiritual care, etc. We treat them with love, respect, compassion, and unconditional regard so by the time they leave in the afternoon, they are full of smiles and gratitude and they can't wait to be back the next day. We keep them actively involved during the day so by the time they get home, they just want to eat and go to bed and give their caregivers additional respite. Best of all, we are able to pray for them. They come to us for their everyday concerns and ask us for prayer, and they look forward to Fridays when we close the week with a devotional. I believe that our small department helps make the world a much, much better place.
-Ramona De Guzman, clinical social worker, adult day health services
It introduces paths “to make man whole!”
-Cherrie Martin, administrative assistant, LLU office of enrollment
Students are our future and training them to make the world a better place automatically makes my world a better place!
-Donna Gurule, assistant dean, master’s program, School of Public Health
We help take care of special-needs patients’ dental needs! We also take care of pediatric patients as well. My department provides awesome care under general anesthesia. Proper dental care alone makes the world a better place! :)
-Alina Rico, dental assistant, Surgery Center
The last 30 years I have walked onto campus and through the doors of the School of Dentistry. I feel honored that I am apart of this incredible system. I feel my work for the school has been my ministry. I so believe in what we teach, stand for as a school and how we give back to students, patients, faculty and staff.
-Mary Hartwell, dental clinics manager, School of Dentistry
I am directly involved in curriculum development through the assessment process. Every day, I feel I have impact on what our students learn, how they learn it and being able to show that they've learned it. There is a tremendous responsibility to get it right, but it is much more important to stay connected with our students and listen to their feedback and remain relevant. I am completely challenged and fulfilled in my work here at the School of Dentistry.
-Euni Cho, director of educational assessment, assistant professor, School of Dentistry administration
It gives me the opportunity to share Christ in me and have an influence on those who need Christ in them.
-Bill Stephens, finance/clinic manager, surgery
It's all about compassion and communication! The financial status of each patient can make or break their life. In these times, the financial security of every person who needs health care is very questionable. Bills due after an unforeseen illness or accident weigh heavy on a patient, especially when the funds are not there. There are many honest patients/people who want to pay their bills but do not have health care insurance. We make an effort to help them understand that we are on their side and will work with them so they can pay their debts. Compassionate communication is what it’s all about and can be used in any workplace. Health care is not free and in our changing world, unfortunately there will always be illness. I found that Loma Linda is a very charitable institution. Communication with compassion will take us in the right direction to help each other.
-Shelley Alonzo, surgery section manager, Loma Linda University Health Care department of orthopedics