We Cannot Do It Alone—We All Need Help if We Want to Be Successful

Four years ago as of this Healthcare Purchasing News (HPN) December issue, I wrote the following in my first column:

“As this is my first column, I would like to thank my friend and mentor, Ray Taurasi, and HPN for allowing me to carry the torch of answering your questions. Ray wrote this column for 19 years, and I will do my best to follow in his footsteps to bring you evidence-based answers that are clinically relevant. We know that many of the processes we perform are ‘sacred cows’ that have been passed down to us and therefore, we may not have data or information to back up the practice. I will do my best to answer your questions, nevertheless.”¹

After 4 years of doing this column, I am passing the torch to my colleague, Adam Okada (one of my fellow educators at Healthmark). My reason: I have decided to retire, and Adam has the passion that is needed to write a monthly column on issues you, the reader, are facing each day.

In 1975, I started as a sterilization orderly and had no idea I would have ended up being an educator at Healthmark, A Getinge company (previously Healthmark Industries) 49 years later.

Many have asked me over the years, “Where has your passion and enthusiasm come from,” along with, “You seem to connect with your audience when speaking. You are successful in what you do. Why or how is that?” It came from many different influencers in my life.

First, my family (parents Stephen and Irene, sister Mary Ellen, and brother David Allan) made sure I understood that each of us can make a difference. Sometimes we do not understand we can make a difference because we might not see the outcome of our impact on others.

My parents taught me to be true to myself, believe in myself and my abilities, and give back when I can. I also was taught if you do not know something, ask; do not be afraid to ask questions because many others have the same questions. How else are you going to learn? Nobody knows everything. Then you take what you learn and find a way to share it with others. Very simple. That is why I modified “Knowledge is power” to say, “The real power is when you share your knowledge with others.”

Next, as a speaker, I was taught to make sure I respected the audience: to express what I knew and what I didn’t know, say what I believe, and label them accordingly without obscuring the lines where knowledge stops and my opinion begins. If asked a question that I did not know the answer to, I should admit it and let them know I will do my best to find the answer and get back.

My career has been blessed with having different mentors–each one teaching me something different. Here are some of them by name: Dr. Donald Magalligan, Tim McElmurry, Marian Kirby, Ethel Durr, Mike Haas, Mrs. Fran Koch, Myrna Tuya, Al Spath, Livia Senties Zuniga, John Nies, Sue Klacik, Jonathan Wilder, Bryant Broder, Mary Ellen-Fortenberry, Ray Taurasi, Don Gordon, Martha Young, Janet Prust, Richard Schule, Cheron Rojo, Brad Catalone, Diane Gosser, Fred Alston, Karen Dulka, Rose Seavy, Scott Pass, David Jargrosse, Steve Adams, Elizabeth Berrios, Jake Mandal, Les Kowalski, Bill Nelson, Tony Thurmond, Betty Hannah, Frank Caravello, Mary Ann Drosnock, Martin Pfeifer, John Whelan, Jan Huys, Outi Lindholm-Ollikainen, Edward Andrews, Penny Sabrosky, Tom Van Gardingen, Karen Owens, Brian Trimmer, Dave Mutschler, Darby Booth, Kristen Cousino, Amanda Dupure, Tony Monaco, Nancy Chobin, Ann Cofiel, Kristine Russell, Seth Hendee, Harry Oussoren, Nuper Jain, Steven Turtil, Jahan Azizi, Matt Smith, Kevin Anderson, Malinda Elammari, Rod Parker, Michael Cobb, Verda Watson, Maura Basile, Natalie Whitfield, Paula Trozak, Delores Basile, Kelly Pyrek, Barb and Ed Kanegsberg, Ron Hunsucker, Bob LeSage, Alex Kirk, Karen MacDonald, Kaumudi Kulkarni, Chris Turner, Mike Kirk, Jon Fish, Hank Balch, Rick Barlow, Dr. M. Alfa, Matt Ippel, Damien Berg, Cori Ofstead, Joe Lewelling, Amanda Bennett, Donna Swenson, Denise Coatsworth, Jill Holdsworth, Jill Berends, Bobbie Smigelski, Tracy Humphries, Michelle Julio, Mike Gregory, Frank Daniles, Rebbeca Washburn, Dan Miller, Shelley Hagen, Mary Velasco and my first staff at Henry Ford Hospital (HFH) OR Reprocessing in the 1980s. Each name has a story behind them, and many of the people might not even know how they helped me, but they did.

The Basile family (Suzanne, Ralph, Mark, and Steven) allowed me the opportunity to learn and work with them and represent their company for the last 24 years. I am still humbled and honored for the trust they put in me.

Each one of the people mentioned (along with many others over these 49 years) put faith in me to do something and accomplish different tasks by working hard (with passion and purpose) and learning from those tasks to become better. They also reinforced in me that what you say and do defines who you are. Do your best each time you do something. You never know who is watching you.

We all need support outside of work. I have been blessed with family and friends who have always been there for me, regardless of what it was.

My friends: To my college buddies, Ray, Gary, Bill, Chet, and Andy, for over 50 years supporting me personally and professionally; thank you guys! My neighbors in the Aviation subdivision, the St. Alphonsus, and the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy (UDJHSA) communities, and the Gyurscik family—never would have made it without them.

My family, who have endured the many weekends away from home and long hours, allowed me to hone my craft at each step of my career. First Anne, who taught me what the meaning of “the patience of Job” is about, and when you put your faith in God, you have nothing to worry about. My two boys, Nicholas and Peter (the many hours watching me practice using a slide projector in the basement going over presentations those early years), when they could be doing other stuff. Maryjo, who has made me a better person all around and reminds me of the importance of family. At this time, my two beautiful granddaughters, Julianne and Oliva Rose, each day remind me why we do it right for each patient because that next patient could be a family member (no shortcuts). Remember, “Quality doesn’t cost, it pays!”2

My extended families of cousins and in-laws (Birosak, Badali, Lafata, Kovach, Ramkers), your support over the years helped me in so many ways. Thank you.

I always understood I could never do it alone. I did not know everything. No matter what the task was, I had friends and family I could always turn to for help. Many times, I might not like their response, but they were always open and honest with me, and I thank everyone for that. My success reflects everyone’s input. Success is not easy. I did not seek it out; it just happened over time.

My goal has always been that if I could help even one person make an improvement, then I would have done my job. Thus, I hope over these last 4 years my columns have helped you understand your work better with sound advice and made a difference (and over my 49 years in the healthcare industry). Thank you for the opportunity, HPN. Adam, you will do an excellent job of providing sound advice for our profession.

I close with modifying my “Keep it Clean” to “Keep it Clean and Functional,” because just being clean is not enough! See, even an old dog can learn over time!