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Get to Know Our Staff: Jerilynn Putnam, Chaplaincy Services

Get to Know Our Staff: Jerilynn Putnam, Chaplaincy Services

by | Feb 19, 2025 | Spotlight

What led you to Scottish Rite?
My passion for humanity, education and ministry led me to Scottish Rite for Children. When I was a resident, I was able to share my pediatric chaplaincy experience with Scottish Rite patients, families and staff. I’m excited and humbled that my residency brought me back to Scottish Rite as the first ever full-time staff chaplain.

Tell us a little bit more about your role.
In my role, I aim to be a calm, hospitable presence for Scottish Rite. I’m here to offer care and support to everyone who enters our doors. I focus on providing direct care to patients receiving day surgery or in the Inpatient Unit. I attend weekly clinical huddles, collaborate with non-clinical services and provide religious resources. Throughout the year, I also offer liturgical reflections, godly play, spiritual play and religious services in Scottish Rite’s chapel for patients, families and staff.

What do you want staff to know about chaplains?
Professional chaplains have extensive educational and clinical training in world religions, theology, spirituality, inclusion and diversity, ethics and family systems. They are here to provide emotional and spiritual support to everyone in the hospital.

When a situation requires for it, they also provide pastoral care, ethical consultation, religious or non-religious support, hospitality, grief or bereavement support, conflict mediation, patient advocacy and customer service, among others.

What made you choose a career in health care?
My personal experience with grief, along with my own medical emergencies and surgeries, led me to a career in health care. As a hospital chaplain, my compassion, love for others and selfless service encourages me to genuinely work with others through the difficult and joyous transitions of life, illness, recovery, grief or death.

What is something unique you get to do in your position?
I have the unique opportunity to learn people’s stories. By utilizing creative tools in my role, I invite others to discover meaning and purpose during their hospitalization and/or daily work.

What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
Outside of work, I love to spend time outdoors and read books. I also love to bake and cook for my family.

Do you have any hidden talents?
Car dancing!

Where are you from and what brought you to DFW?
I am a homegrown Dallas girl!

If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
I would go to New Zealand to soak in as many mountain hikes and water adventures as possible before relaxing at a few wineries.

If you had to pick one meal to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
Because of my love of rice and vegetables, I would eat sushi and stir fry for the rest of my life.

What movie do you think everyone should watch at least once?
“Life Is Beautiful.”

What was the first concert you attended?
I went to B-52’s concert.

Favorite DFW hidden gem?
My favorite DFW gem is not hidden, but it’s the view of the Dallas skyline from any perspective.

If you were to have a movie based on your life, which actress/actor would you choose to play your character?
Drew Barrymore.

What is some advice you would give your younger self OR what’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
Make the best of each day and celebrate often!

Get to Know Our Staff: Carissa Stoddard, Physical Therapy

Get to Know Our Staff: Carissa Stoddard, Physical Therapy

by | Feb 13, 2025 | Spotlight, Therapy Services

What is your job title/your role at Scottish Rite?
I am a physical therapist (PT), and I primarily help with Scottish Rite’s intensive PT program and other inpatient PT needs.

 

What is the most fulfilling part of your job?
The most rewarding part of my job is witnessing the joy on children’s and families’ faces as they achieve their mobility goals. It’s truly remarkable to see a child discover their ability to move and explore independently.

 

What makes Scottish Rite a special place to you?
I have always dreamed of working at Scottish Rite. What makes Scottish Rite unique is the collaborative care we provide to every patient, and I am honored to be part of the team.

 

What made you choose a career in health care?
I wanted a job that was not only enjoyable and fulfilling but also revolved around personable interactions. With an engineering and athletic background, physical therapy was a natural transition for me.

 

What is something unique you get to do in your position?
I love that I get to see patients and families at all stages in their care journey, from before surgery, immediately after surgery, during rehab and at follow-up appointments. I really enjoy seeing how far the children progress through every phase of their journeys.

 

What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
I enjoy trying new restaurants in Dallas and traveling.

 

Do you have any hidden talents?
I can bake pretty well.

 

Where are you from and what brought you to D-FW?
Although I moved all over the state growing up, I spent most of my childhood in D-FW. I returned to Dallas for graduate school and never left.

 

If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
I would travel to Spain or Africa. I’ve always wanted to go for an extended trip but haven’t been able to yet.

 

If you had to pick one meal to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Chips and salsa.

 

What movie do you think everyone should watch at least once?
“White Christmas,” because it’s a classic.

 

What was the first concert you attended?
Although admitting this may age me a little, the first real concert I attended was Creed and Sevendust when they were really popular.

 

Favorite DFW hidden gem?
Lounge Here.

 

If you were to have a movie based on your life, which actress/actor would you choose to play your character?
Jennifer Lawrence or Reese Witherspoon (because I’ve been compared to her before).

 

What is some advice you would give your younger self OR what’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
Take the scenic route, pause to enjoy the view and learn from the process.

Get to Know Our Staff: Erika Harper-Dugan, Dietary

Get to Know Our Staff: Erika Harper-Dugan, Dietary

by | Feb 10, 2025 | Spotlight

What is your job title/your role at Scottish Rite?
I am a food service manager, and I ensure that our patients’ food orders are correct and delivered in a timely manner.

What is the most fulfilling part of your job?                             
The most fulfilling part of my job is getting the chance to meet patients and their families.

What makes Scottish Rite a special place to you?
Scottish Rite is special to me because I get the chance to make a lifelong impact on the lives of patients and their families. 

What made you choose a career in health care?
I chose a career in health care to be able to make patients happy.

What is something unique you get to do in your position?
I get to talk, play and have fun with the patients!

What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
I like to make crafts and give back to the community in various ways.

Where are you from and what brought you to DFW?
I’m a native cowgirl of Dallas.

If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
I would travel to Madrid, just to be able to experience traveling and trying different foods.

If you had to pick one meal to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
I could eat surf and turf for the rest of my life, as well as shrimp, steak, baked potatoes and a salad.

What movie do you think everyone should watch at least once?
“The Christmas Story.”

What was the first concert you attended?
Prince.

Favorite DFW hidden gem?
A DFW hidden gem is Jimmy’s Food Store, located in Old East Dallas.

If you were to have a movie based on your life, which actress/actor would you choose to play your character?
I would pick Queen Latifah.

What is some advice you would give your younger self OR what’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
The best piece of advice I’ve heard is that there are no strangers.

A Legacy of Love: 50 Years of Giving Back Through Volunteering

A Legacy of Love: 50 Years of Giving Back Through Volunteering

by | Jan 28, 2025 | General News, Spotlight

To Sandra Thompson, Scottish Rite for Children is an opportunity to enrich the lives of others. This February marks Sandra’s 50th year of volunteering, making her the longest-serving volunteer at Scottish Rite. For dedicating more than 15,000 hours of service, Sandra was awarded with a pin by President and CEO Robert “Bob” Walker, which serves as a symbol of her unwavering support to Scottish Rite’s mission of giving children back their childhood.

For more than 30 years, Sandra served as a flight attendant at American Airlines, and in 1975, she chose Scottish Rite as the place she would devote her expertise in customer service. Initially, she volunteered in the Inpatient Unit, giving toys to the children and brightening up their days. Some of her fondest memories include watching the patients grow from young children into healthy adults with their own families.  

Today, Sandra can be found at the popcorn desk, popping and serving fresh popcorn every Monday morning. She has trained several volunteers in this role over the years, earning her recognition of being a reliable volunteer.

Words that Sandra lives by are: “Learn to enjoy the moment since all things change. Accept what you are given, and make the most of life.”

We celebrate Sandra not only for the hours she has given but also for the love she has shared to make Scottish Rite a better place for all!

Get to Know Our Staff: Rowana Moreau, Dental

Get to Know Our Staff: Rowana Moreau, Dental

by | Jan 22, 2025 | Spotlight

What is your job title/your role at Scottish Rite?   
I am a clinical dental hygienist. My role is to help provide checkups and cleanings to our patients at Scottish Rite. I also assist our dental manager with daily activities in the clinic, including scheduling surgeries, ordering supplies and managing clinic flow.

 

What is the most fulfilling part of your job?
It’s definitely the kids. Being able to provide care to our patients is very rewarding. A smile from them can brighten my whole day.

 

What makes Scottish Rite a special place to you?
There is always a little magic in the air at Scottish Rite. It’s a place where everyone feels included and cared for.

 

What made you choose a career in health care?
I always loved to help people, so I chose a career where I could work in a nonprofit setting and provide care to an underserved population. I am also a total science nerd, and I love to learn new things. I feel like I get to all of that at Scottish Rite!

 

What is something unique you get to do in your position?
We sing a lot in dental. If you haven’t heard us in the hallways, you should swing by sometime. Many of our patients get nervous before their appointments, and they ask us to sing to calm them down.

 

What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
My two passions outside of work are gardening and yoga. I have spent the past few years putting together an extensive vegetable and flower garden. I also have practiced yoga for more than 20 years and love the way it makes me feel.

 

Do you have any hidden talents?
I am really good with a hammer! In 2018, I bought a fixer-up house and spent two years gutting and remodeling it.

 

Where are you from and what brought you to DFW?
I was born and raised in Dallas.

 

If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
I would love to travel to Spain. It is the one country in Europe I haven’t been able check off my travel list.

 

If you had to pick one meal to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
I would choose chicken, as well as macaroni and cheese with fried okra. It reminds me of my childhood. Must be the southerner in me!

 

What movie do you think everyone should watch at least once?
Everyone should watch “Groundhog Day”. I think if we all had a chance to re-do one day, we would learn that the way we treat each other is one of the most important things to remember.

 

What was the first concert you attended?
New Kids on the Block.

 

Favorite DFW hidden gem?
My favorite is the Balcony Club in East Dallas. It’s the cutest jazz bar with live music every night, almost like a time capsule of the 1980s.

 

If you were to have a movie based on your life, which actress/actor would you choose to play your character?
I would choose Scarlett Johansson.

 

What is some advice you would give your younger self OR what’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
If I could give my younger self advice, I would say don’t worry so much about how the world sees you. You should worry more about doing better each day.

Dallas Morning News: How Volunteering at Scottish Rite Fostered a Heartwarming Friendship

Dallas Morning News: How Volunteering at Scottish Rite Fostered a Heartwarming Friendship

by | Jan 17, 2025 | Press Coverage, Spotlight

At Scottish Rite for Children, volunteers play a vital role in staff, patients and their families’ experiences. By contributing their unique skills, they unite to support the organization’s mission of giving children back their childhoods.

24-year-old Nick Blockzynski returned to Scottish Rite as a volunteer, previously treated for scoliosis. He began volunteering in 2019 and worked in the organization’s mail room. He met 62-year-old retiree Tom Shehan there, and the two quickly formed an extraordinary bond. From delivering mail to having meaningful conversations, Nick and Tom work together as a dynamic duo to bring joy to all children who visit Scottish Rite.

Read the full Dallas Morning News article here.