Nov 12, 2018 / Spotlight

Get to Know our SRH Staff: Shelia Whittenberg, Clinical Laboratory Director

Meet Shelia, our clinical laboratory director who spent 10.5 years in the Air Force before working at our hospital. Learn more about her in our #SRHstaff spotlight below:

What’s your favorite part of your job?
I love making a difference as a medical technologist. I have a really good team that makes my job easy.
 
What’s your favorite thing about the hospital?
What I love most about the hospital is that on a daily basis we are able to help so many children and give them back their childhood. It’s one of the most giving places that I have ever worked.
 
How long have you worked here?
I have actually worked here twice! The first time was for four and a half years and this time it has been a little over four years.
 
How did you find out about the hospital?
It was 2002 and I had just moved to Dallas, after separating from the Air Force. I happened to drive by the hospital, wrote down the name and then applied on my way home.
 
What made you want to work here?
As soon as I initially drove by, I had a good gut feeling about the hospital. Once I read the history of the hospital, I knew I was supposed to be here.
 
What skills do you need for your job?
To be a medical technologist, you have to be able to think fast and multitask. As a director, I incorporate my technical skills, along with administrative skills, in order to make good decisions for the department.
 
What was your first job? What path did you take to get here?
My first job was when I was 16 and I worked at McDonald’s. I was excited to be able to help out my mom financially. At the age of 21, I joined the Air Force and worked in the clinical laboratory. I spent 10.5 years in the Air Force, where I was the preceptor in microbiology, as well as worked in all other areas of the laboratory.
 
What is your favorite…
  • Hospital event: staff holiday party
  • Food in the cafeteria: Stephan’s pasta bar
  • Place in the hospital: the laboratory and the chapel
 What’s your favorite…
  • Place to travel: anywhere tropical
  • Type of food: seafood - I'm from Louisiana
  • TV show: Property Brothers
If you could have a super power, what would it be?
To be able to fly, the traffic in Dallas is brutal!
 
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a lawyer.
 
What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?
I recently swam with the dolphins in Punta Cana.
 
What’s the last book you read?
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
 
What kind of animal would you be?
A puppy...I love dogs!
 
How long is your commute? What do you do on the drive?
I live about 19 miles from the hospital, but it usually takes me about 1 hour to get here. I either talk to my older brother or listen to audio books.
 
What is something people don’t know about you?
I am a really good cook!
 
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
Anything sung by Whitney Houston. She was the greatest.
 
 
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