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Get to Know Our Staff: Justin Williams, Sterile Processing

Get to Know Our Staff: Justin Williams, Sterile Processing

by | Apr 2, 2025 | Spotlight

What is your job title/role at Scottish Rite?
I am a sterile processing lead technician and instrument specialist. I ensure all surgical instruments are readily available and properly organized for procedures. I also support the Surgery team by maintaining, inspecting and troubleshooting instrument trays before and after surgery.

What is the most fulfilling part of your job?
The most fulfilling part about my job is that I’m part of a team that is on the front line to ensure patients have a clean and successful surgery.

What makes Scottish Rite a special place to you?
Scottish Rite is a special place because the staff genuinely cares for the families. When facing the concern of their child having surgery, the staff works hard to ensure that surgery is one less thing they must worry about in their lives.

What made you choose a career in health care?
Honestly, I feel like health care chose me. When I first started at Scottish Rite, I worked in Environmental Services. I decided to challenge myself and transfer to my current department, beginning this new chapter in life.

What is something unique you get to do in your position?
A unique part of my job is that I am involved in multiple stages of the surgery process. Before surgery, I see the implants and instruments that need to be organized and sterilized. During surgery, I’m called to the operating room to help with any issues with the instruments or power equipment. After surgery, I am a part of the cleaning process.

What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
I enjoy having skate days with my son and my two girls, as well as relaxing at home with my Frenchie, Shady.

Do you have any hidden talents?
I build custom roller skates.

Where are you from, and what brought you to DFW?
I’m originally from Dallas, raised in the Pleasant Grove and South Dallas area.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
I would visit the Fiji islands. It is a beautiful place to see, especially in pictures, and I’ve always wanted to experience it in person.

If you had to pick one meal to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
I would pick lasagna and fries, which are two of my all-time favorites. They never get old!

What movie do you think everyone should watch at least once?
“Life,” featuring Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence.

What was the first concert you attended?
The Funk Fest tour.

Favorite DFW hidden gem?
K-Pop Ramen.

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

What is some advice you would give your younger self, OR what’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
Don’t take on too much too early. Just travel, and don’t rush life.

Get to Know Our Staff: Kelly Jeans, Movement Science

Get to Know Our Staff: Kelly Jeans, Movement Science

by | Mar 26, 2025 | Research & Innovation, Spotlight

What is your job title/your role at Scottish Rite?
I am the Division Director of the Movement Science Lab (MSL) in Dallas. I also am a researcher with an interest in understanding treatment outcomes in the patients we treat here at Scottish Rite.

What is the most fulfilling part of your job?
The key to successful research is having a strong team of collaborators with technical and clinical expertise. The most fulfilling part of my job is seeing our research efforts directly impact clinical care.

What makes Scottish Rite a special place to you?
The staff is what makes Scottish Rite a special place. The people here are friendly and genuinely happy to help.

What made you choose a career in health care?
I was looking for a research job in biomechanics and found Scottish Rite’s job posting for Clinical Gait Lab Biomechanist. When I came to interview, I got to sit in on the lab’s monthly research meeting. That’s when I knew this was a perfect fit. What makes my career even better is that I get to work with kids and do research!

What is something unique you get to do in your position?
I get to study movement patterns using 3D motion capture, which I think is super cool!

What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
Gardening (but not weeding), growing plumerias, travelling and sewing.

Do you have any hidden talents?
I am the “fixer” of all things in my house. Whenever I tell my family something is beyond repair, they get deeply disappointed.

Where are you from and what brought you to DFW?
I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and graduated from college in Southern California. I moved to Dallas to join the MSL team.

If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
I love to travel and have a long bucket list. If I had to pick just one trip, I would really love to make it to Australia and New Zealand. I want to dive into the great barrier reef and do the “Lord of the Rings” tour in New Zealand.

If you had to pick one meal to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Only one meal for the rest of my life?!  If I had to choose, I would have to go with fresh seafood, pasta, a salad and a Diet Dr. Pepper.

What movie do you think everyone should watch at least once?
“Elf.” Will Ferrell still cracks me up after all these years.

What was the first concert you attended?
I want to say Whitney Houston or George Michael, but I can’t remember who came first.

Favorite DFW hidden gem?
I would recommend Gloria’s for their swirl margarita and pupusas.

If you were to have a movie based on your life, which actress/actor would you choose to play your character?
I would pick Drew Barrymore. She seems to be a positive person who might appreciate a good garden.

What is some advice you would give your younger self OR what’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
The best advice I received was to get on the board of a professional society. It has really been wonderful working with other health care providers who share a passion for treating children.

Texas Country Reporter: The Artistic Prosthetist Dwight Putnam

Texas Country Reporter: The Artistic Prosthetist Dwight Putnam

by | Mar 25, 2025 | Press Coverage, Prosthetics & Orthotics, Spotlight

Dwight Putnam discovered that his artistic talent could transform the lives of children at Scottish Rite for Children. He transitioned from working as a sculptor to a prosthetist, finding his calling in crafting prostheses that empower children with limb differences. For the past 18 years, Dwight has served as an integral part of Scottish Rite for Children’s in-house Orthotics and Prosthetics department, designing, fitting, and delivering custom-made prostheses to address each patient’s specific needs.

“It is really rare for somebody to have a job that shows the immediate contribution you have to someone’s well-being,” Dwight says. “To be able to just be a part of that process is awesome.”

To learn more about Dwight’s story, watch his segment shown on the Texas Country Reporter.

Get to Know Our Staff: Claire Clark, Research

Get to Know Our Staff: Claire Clark, Research

by | Mar 19, 2025 | Spotlight

What was your first experience at Scottish Rite?
My first experience at Scottish Rite was as a patient for one of my many sports-related injuries in middle school. I began shadowing at Scottish Rite in high school and during college. Then, I became a Clinical Orthopedic Research Assistant (CORA) after graduating from Texas Christian University (TCU) in 2022.

What was your first experience with research at Scottish Rite?
When I started shadowing at Scottish Rite during high school, I was working with the research team a few days every week. Early on, I had the opportunity to learn about the research process and the importance of research in medicine and its importance in the medical field.

What has been your favorite project to work on and why?
My favorite project was a study of osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the knee and its relationship to coronal malalignment of the lower extremities. I have enjoyed taking this project from start to finish under the guidance of my mentors, which include Henry B. Ellis, M.D., Philip L. Wilson, M.D., Chuck Wyatt, M.S., CPNP, RNFA and Ben Johnson, P.A-C., A.T.C.

What has been your favorite experience and why? (Something outside of your immediate job duties such as observing surgery, attending a conference, etc.)
My favorite experience as a CORA has been the opportunity to shadow regularly. Shadowing helps apply what I am learning through research in both clinical and surgical settings. I have enjoyed the lifelong friendships I have built with my fellow CORAs, as well as other members of the research and clinical teams.

How has your experience impacted your career path?
My experience at Scottish Rite has been invaluable to my career, as research is such an important part of medicine. As a CORA, I have been immersed in an environment that has taught me about research, medicine and patient care, among many other lessons I would not have had the opportunity to learn so early in my career.

What’s next for you?  What specialty do you plan to pursue?
In July, I plan to enter the class of 2029 at the Burnett School of Medicine at TCU! I graduated from TCU in 2022, so I am thrilled at the idea of returning to Fort Worth for medical school. I hope to pursue a career in orthopedic surgery.

What advice do you have for students who want to go to medical school?
My biggest advice for other students wanting to go to medical school is to not rush the process. Taking gap years before medical school was such a blessing and allowed me the opportunity to gain invaluable research and clinical experience as a CORA. It also gave me the chance to have meaningful life experiences, travel and explore new hobbies.

Get to Know Our Staff: Wendi Gray, Development

Get to Know Our Staff: Wendi Gray, Development

by | Mar 14, 2025 | Spotlight

What is your job title?
I am a senior donor relations analyst for the Development department.

What is the most fulfilling part of your job?
It is inspiring to see how much our donors love and support the hospital.

What makes Scottish Rite a special place to you?
My coworkers feel like family to me. We have worked with each other for so long. Most of us have worked at Scottish Rite for 15 years or more. I also get to work with my mother. She has worked at Scottish Rite for the past 12 years.

What made you choose a career in health care?
I like to think that health care chose me!

What is something unique you get to do in your position?
I report the donation amount totals to our executive staff and to the board of trustees.

What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
I am a huge hockey fan. My first date with my husband was at a minor league hockey game, and he proposed to me at a Dallas Stars game. I also enjoy going to concerts.

Do you have any hidden talents?
It’s not hidden to the Development team, but I can still do the splits. I took dance lessons for around 30 years, and I still love a good dance floor!

Where are you from and what brought you to D-FW?
I have lived in Mesquite, Texas my entire life.

If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
I would want to re-visit Toronto, Canada, so I can go to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

If you had to pick one meal to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
I would choose tacos, because I love Tex-Mex food.

What movie do you think everyone should watch at least once?
It’s hard for me to pick just one. I would say “Steel Magnolias” and “Shawshank Redemption.”

What was the first concert you attended?
Rick Springfield.

Favorite D-FW hidden gem?
Dodie’s Cajun Restaurant at the Harbor in Rockwall, Texas.

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

Get to Know Our Staff: Nicole Shively, Physical Therapy

Get to Know Our Staff: Nicole Shively, Physical Therapy

by | Mar 6, 2025 | Sports Medicine, Spotlight

What is your job title at Scottish Rite?
I am a sports physical therapist.

What is the most fulfilling part of your job?
It is fulfilling to help kids find joy through the rehabilitation process. I enjoy helping them implement a good work ethic that they can apply inside and outside of physical therapy (PT).

What makes Scottish Rite a special place to you?
The environment at Scottish Rite is unmatched, because every employee holds themselves to a high standard. My colleagues and I are not only trying to grow ourselves but also the PT profession.

What made you choose a career in health care?
When I was a young athlete, I was sidelined for so many injuries. Rehabilitation had such a positive and lasting impact on my life that I decided to pursue it.

What is something unique you get to do in your position?
I get to embrace my playful side and make PT sessions fun for the kids. Playing sports with the young athletes also makes me feel like a kid again. 

What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
I like to watch sports. I also like to spend time with my family, especially my nieces and my dog, Boston.

Where are you from and what brought you to D-FW?
I am originally from Upstate New York. I came to D-FW for the warmer weather and to be closer to my family.

If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
I would travel to Banff National Park in Canada to go on a hike in the mountains, be by a lake and do all the outdoor activities.

If you had to pick one meal to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I would eat brisket tacos with chips and guacamole on the side.

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

What was the first concert you attended?
I saw the Jonas Brothers when I was in 8th grade.

Favorite DFW hidden gem?
Jimmy’s Food Store in Dallas.

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

What is some advice you would give your younger self OR what’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
Care less about what other people think, and be confident in yourself.