What is your role at Scottish Rite for Children?  
I am a staff orthotist.  

What do you do on a daily basis? 
I work in the Orthotics & Prosthetics department. We are a close-knit group of employees who measure, make, fit, troubleshoot and repair braces and artificial limbs. My role is to measure, fit and do the troubleshooting, while our talented group of technicians make and repair everything under the sun. Scottish Rite is a rare business model in the sense that we house our own orthotics & prosthetics services. Most other hospitals or organizations contract those services out. We are asked to make things that are “in the box” and many that are “out of the box.” There are very few dull moments.  
 
What was your first job? What led you to Scottish Rite? How long have you worked here?
I delivered newspapers as a kid - The Alexandria Gazette in Northern Virginia. As far as what led me to Scottish Rite - years ago, I was working as a lifeguard at Bachman Lake Recreation Center. This led to a job as a physical therapy aide at what used to be called Swiss Avenue Hospital in Dallas. While working as a PT aide, I was exposed to orthotics & prosthetics. I sought out the college programs in the field that were available, and I applied to UT Southwestern. While earning my degree, I completed a rotation at Scottish Rite, and I just assumed that all other hospitals and practices operated as cohesively as they did here. After I graduated, I spent nine years at Duke Medical Center and then six years in Houston. Fourteen years ago, a position at Scottish Rite became available and I jumped at the opportunity to not only be back closer to my parents, but to also join the Scottish Rite team. By the way, most of the same people I rotated with 15 years earlier are still working here.

What do you enjoy most about Scottish Rite? 
Kids are fun to work with! I also appreciate the interdepartmental respect and communication. 

What energizes you outside of work?
Walking my black lab, Leon. 

What’s the best advice you were ever given? Who was it from?
I am the fifth of six kids - my mother is a saint. Imagine preparing daily meals for eight people! My father would always say, “Take what you want, but eat what you take.” To this day, I’m known to clean my plate and I cringe at the sight of wasted food. 

What’s one hobby you’d love to get into?
I don’t think my marriage could handle another hobby. My hobby dance card is full.