Cristina Marquez

I switched from business to social work with my master's degree, and that was really pivotal because I was not happy doing accounts payable. It was not something that gave me life. Then I found social work, and it really just felt like everything was aligned. I have not regretted making that switch and changing degrees and paths. It just helped me get where I am now. Throughout my career, I've devoted a lot of time to mental health overall because that encompasses so many different areas of social work, medical systems, and school systems. I've worked in hospitals doing medical case management in emergency rooms and OB departments with women who were delivering. I worked at the VA with veterans doing suicide prevention, and I've worked in schools as a social worker within a large district here in Kansas City. I also started a social work department within a small charter school. Before that, I worked in child welfare and in medical roles working with women, children, and infants that were either HIV-positive or exposed. Currently, I'm an adjunct dean at a couple of universities, trying to give back to the field. I just started at a children's hospital in January, and it's been a lot of learning but a good transition. My role involves a lot of meetings and planning, including helping to plan an annual school health conference and convening committees for school nurses and behavioral health folks within school systems.