Details
Manager, Patient Services Call Center, UNC Hospital
Chapel Hill, NC
Age: 25
Education: B.S. in nutrition science from North Carolina State
Years at organization: 2
Why Selected?
According to Travis Watt, director of patient services, Jennifer has made an impact on dining services by:
•Reprogramming the diet office system and developing systems and protocols to run the new call center
•Developing a feedback/rating system in the call center for training and continuous improvement
•Demonstrating a desire to tackle new projects and assist with training
Get to know
Being an integral player in the launch of Restaurant Delivery. I managed a call center that tripled in size and now handles approximately 1,500 phone calls from nurses and patients each day. Launching a program of this magnitude so early in my career has given me the confidence to take the initiative in many other aspects.
I am the definition of a go-getter. I don’t quit and I’m always ready to take on the next challenge.
As long as you are always fair and consistent, your team will be able to respect and support you.
I am the youngest manager in our department. Working alongside individuals who had been in the business longer than I have been alive was intimidating. I knew that respect was earned and not given and I worked to build a rapport with my co-workers and employees.
Q. What's been your most rewarding moment?I remember a patient who was in the hospital for an extended period of time and he was, admittedly, a very picky eater. He brought in a recipe for a sauce that his wife made for him at home and asked if we could make it for him. I worked with one of our chefs and we were able to produce the sauce exactly how his wife made it. I remember visiting him and seeing the look of pure joy on his face as he took his first bite. After he was discharged, he and his wife sent me a very nice thank you note. It was nice to see how a little extra work made such a difference for this patient.
I have recently started my dietetic internship and am on the path to becoming a registered dietitian. My hope is to continue my career in foodservice management as an R.D.
Q. What's been your funniest on-the-job disaster?We ran out of bananas. It was Saturday night and I know that it’s a pretty popular fruit at breakfast, so I was worried about the morning shift. I went to the nearest grocery store to stock up on bananas. I know I looked pretty ridiculous checking out with a cart full of bananas.