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Patricia Fuller-Murray credits Workforce Development for helping her realize she could go back to school.
Patricia Fuller-Murray, a certified unit coordinator on Shapiro 7 West, is a 15-year BWHer. Her days are busy with assigning beepers to nurses on the medical floor, inputting progress notes for the unit’s patients, answering phone calls, scheduling medical tests and arranging patient transport.
“My favorite part is interacting with patients and colleagues,” she said. “It feels good to help out, especially if I can comfort a family that may be nervous about a loved one.”
For years, Fuller-Murray had been thinking about going back to school while working. “It was something I had been wanting to do, but I was unsure—because of my age—if I could do it,” Fuller-Murray said.
But, in 2007, when she learned about Workforce Development (WFD) Fuller-Murray felt ready to take the first step. She spoke with WFD Director Geoff Vercauteren, sharing her personal and professional goals. Vercauteren and other WFD career coaches helped her realize that she had what it took to go back to school. She enrolled in WFD’s School at Work program, an on-site bridge program that prepares employees for entrance to college.
WFD, part of BWH Human Resources, supports employees interested in advancing their careers at the hospital by providing them with personalized career coaching and counseling, as well as education preparation programs. Offerings include patient care assistant training; reading, writing and math courses; U.S. citizenship and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programs; and the Online College Preparation and Loan Forgiveness/Educational Financial Assistance programs. In 2012, more than 350 BWHers participated in a WFD course or program.
“BWH recognizes that our employees are our most valuable resource, and we’re dedicated to helping them enhance their skills and advance their careers here,” said Vercauteren. “WFD provides employees with tools and resources to keep growing. We want BWHers to know that it’s never too late to learn something new.”
Like Fuller-Murray, BWH’s Kristina Lefteri also relied on WFD’s support to achieve her goals. After moving from Greece to the U.S. in 2004, she began working as a specimen bank coordinator for BWH Pathology. She loved the lab setting and wanted to learn more about lab technology and acquire additional skills and training.
Lefteri decided to enroll in a bachelor’s program at Boston University to become a medical technologist and received funds from WFD’s Educational Financial Assistance Program. “WFD is a huge support for employees,” she said. “I will never forget how they helped me.” As for Fuller-Murray, she is finishing up her bachelor’s degree in health care management at Fisher College. She has made the dean’s list nearly every semester since beginning the program in 2009.
“Workforce Development is where I got my courage,” said Fuller-Murray, who also credits her husband and four children for being a support system. “Once you realize you can accomplish your goals, anything is possible. I am finally doing something I have wanted to do for 15 years.”
Learn more about WFD, or call 617-713-3738. Stay tuned to the hospital’s Community Connects screens and BWHPikeNotes.org for stories from other WFD program graduates.