Her Story
About Kim
My career has taken me through several industries, but healthcare has been my calling for about 20 years. I started my working life as a seamstress at London Town Corporation at age [AGE], becoming a supervisor at age [AGE] and working there for 13 years until they moved overseas. That's when I decided to transition into healthcare, starting at Prudential Healthcare and then moving to Sierra Military Health Services, where I worked in the government affairs department helping military members understand their benefits and navigate how to use them. After Sierra lost its government contract, I moved into finance at Toyota Financial Services, where I spent 16 years in various positions. When my mother got sick, I retired from Toyota to care for her, and after she passed away, I went back into healthcare, which led me to my current position at Johns Hopkins Bayview Hospital. For the past 5 years, I've been a team lead in an ambulatory clinic working with a nephrologist (kidney doctor). I'm a fast learner and multitasker, and what motivates me most is helping and motivating others to get into healthcare, especially young people, because it's a field that's wide open with always-available work opportunities. Beyond my professional work, I'm deeply involved in church leadership - I ran the women's ministry for 8 years and currently lead our church's 60th anniversary committee. I've mentored many young women, including my daughter's friends who told me I was like a mother to them, helping them understand what they need to do to make it in this world.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kim
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to being a fast learner and multitasker who can do pretty much anything. When I got back into healthcare after years in finance, I had no problems because I learn quickly. What really drives me is my motivation to help and motivate others, especially young people, to get into healthcare. I know the healthcare field is wide open and always has work available, whether on the administrative side, as a nurse, as an MA, or whatever you feel you can do. My faith has also been central - I always prayed to God that wherever I work, He would allow me to make it off of one income where I could take care of my family. And I've raised a niece, a nephew, a daughter, and a granddaughter off of the jobs that I had. The encouragement from my mentors made a huge difference too - my high school teacher Mr. Hopkins always told me I carry myself professionally and can do anything I put my mind to, my mom always said I was her strong child and could do anything I set my mind to, and my dad called me his angel. My mom told me before she passed to take care of my dad if he's still here, and I do take care of him now.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice came from my high school teacher, Mr. Hopkins, and my parents. Mr. Hopkins always told me that I carry myself professionally and seem to be able to do anything that I put my mind to. He was always there for me, looked for other opportunities for me to expand in, and encouraged me to continue on with whatever I decided to do. My mom always told me I was her strong child and that anything I set my mind to, I could do it. She even said I was the child who would leave her at a shopping center, go buy a brand new car, and come back to pick her up in it - she'd never met a child like that. My dad has always said I was his angel. Before my mom passed, she told me to make sure I take care of my dad if he's still here, and I do take care of him now. That encouragement to believe in myself and know I could do anything I set my mind to has guided my entire career.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say go back to school - that's number one. Push yourself as far as you can go. Now, I do know that college is not for everyone, but there are other programs that can put you into the medical field. Once you get in, try to get into a position and a job that will pay for your education so that you won't be stopped with student loans. The healthcare field is a strong field with lots of opportunities, but my advice is to try to stay out of debt and get into a job that will pay for your education. There's a lot out there for you as far as education is concerned. I'm not denying anyone from going to college - if that's something you want to do, do it - but there are other ways that you can make your money or get paid. I didn't finish college myself, I'm gonna be honest with you. I went to college but had to go back to work. But I always prayed to God that wherever I work, He would allow me to make it off of one income where I could take care of my family, and I raised a niece, nephew, daughter, and granddaughter off of the jobs I had.
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