Reviewed by: Callie Puryear
The simple reason one woman has loved her healthcare job at this local hospital for 40 years
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For Lisa Jesse, Pharmacy Operations Manager at Brookwood Baptist Health, the reason she’s been happy in her healthcare job at Brookwood Baptist Medical Center for 40 years comes down to one key factor: support. Keep reading to find out how her department supports each other and the difference that culture of support makes to the people who work there and to their patients.
Meet Lisa Jesse, who’s been in her healthcare job since 1983
Lisa Jesse’s current title is Pharmacy Operations Manager at Brookwood Baptist Medical Center. For forty years, she’s served in the hospital’s pharmacy department and absolutely loves it. You’d think she’d be the only 40-year-employee, but apparently pharmacists are a rare breed, since she rattled off the names half a dozen others who had been there 40+ years, as well.
Outside of work, she’s the proud mama of three grown children who have all graduated from college and have jobs—ironically, none in healthcare, where she and her husband have made their careers.
She’s an active member of Mountain Chapel Methodist Church, where she helps with kids, youth and various other ministries.
Her 99-year-old father is still alive and doing well, so she and her sister spend time taking care of him as well.
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Getting started in her healthcare job at Brookwood Baptist
After finishing pharmacy school and completing her externship, Lisa knew she needed a job and that retail pharmacy was not what she wanted to do. When she was in pharmacy school, she didn’t know that hospital pharmacy existed.
Lisa applied for a pharmacy job at Brookwood Baptist but didn’t get it because she didn’t have enough experience.
Determined to pursue her goals, she worked at Walker Regional (later Walker Baptist) for three months, which turned out to be a great place to gain experience. When another pharmacy job opened up at Brookwood, she applied and got it.
Want to work in healthcare? Brookwood Baptist Health is hiring.
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What makes the culture of Brookwood Baptist Medical Center unique
When I asked Lisa what made Brookwood Baptist unique, she approached her answer from two angles.
On the one hand, she talked about the work itself and the difference the pharmacy department is able to make on behalf of their patients by working collaboratively with nurse and physicians.
On the other, she talked about the warm and nurturing culture of the department, which includes great times, delicious food and special activities together.
“We all support each other, laugh at each other and help each other grow.”
Lisa Jesse, Pharmacy Operations Manager, Brookwood Baptist Health
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Reflections on 40 years of support
When Lisa thinks back on her 40 years at Brookwood Baptist, the biggest personal highlight is that she met her husband there.
But workwise, it’s the culture of support that makes all the difference.
“We’ve seen each other have babies, lose children, spouses and parents and we’re always there for each other.
If somebody loses somebody significant among their good friends here, we make arrangements to cover the shift so they can attend the funeral or the visitation.
We take care of each other and help each other out.”
Lisa Jesse, Pharmacy Operations Manager, Brookwood Baptist Medical Center
She elaborated that their department had technicians become pharmacists and they’ve even had one employee who went on to become a fantastic surgeon. They work around their team members’ school schedules and support them as they follow their dreams.
Are you looking for a job in healthcare? Brookwood Baptist Health is hiring.
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