LMSW, UTMB Bay Colony Pediatrics—Primary and Specialty Clinics, UTMB Pediatrics Clear Lake Specialty Clinics
How long at UTMB: 12 years
As a social worker, what does your day look like?
I love my job because every day presents new and interesting challenges! I work with multiple clinics, health care staff and patients, and my day usually adjusts to whatever is presented to me at that time.
What called you to social work?
My interest in underserved populations.
What is the best part of your job?
Watching people overcome their barriers and succeeding in ways that they never thought possible.
What is the most challenging part?
Realizing that I can’t just “fix” all situations and that sometimes all I can do is be supportive and listen to the patient.
What qualities in yourself make you a good social worker?
I try hard to not be judgmental with my patients and to put myself in the other person’s shoes when I am trying to work with them and understand their situations.
What does “success” in your job mean to you?
The ability to recognize and appreciate the “baby steps” in a person’s life and decisions, as well as my own.
If you could tell people something about social work and social workers, what would it be?
Take care of yourself even when you don’t think it’s important—burn out is real, and people in the helping professions are most at risk!