Tammy Sturkie

I definitely attribute my success to moving up so quickly in my position. I started out as a regular business associate, which is basically the entry level at the hospital, and I worked my way up to this position within a year. I think they saw how hardworking I was - I just took on every task that I needed to be and worked really well with others. I believe that things happen to people who work hard. People do see people that work hard, and you might not feel like you're acknowledged all the time, but they see it. When you apply for things, you will get that position over somebody else because you will have that reference of people saying how hard you work. So really just apply yourself, and good things will happen. Sometimes they might take time, but they will happen.

Definitely just work hard. I mean, things happen to people. People do see people that work hard, and you might not feel like you're acknowledged all the time, but they see it. When you apply for things, you will get that position over somebody else because you will have that reference of people saying how hard you work. So really just apply yourself, and good things will happen. Sometimes they might take time, but they will happen. I also think we all have to support each other as women, and networking is very key. I don't think a lot of people know that, but you have to network to get to know people and what's out there and what's open, because not everything you can find on your own.

Working for 10 different surgeons means everyone has a different personality, so it's kind of working with them all - that can be sometimes difficult because they all have different preferences, or they think that you read their mind, and unfortunately, I don't have that capability. Getting everyone on the schedule as convenient as you can is also challenging. Obviously, we don't do surgery every day, so just accommodating patients as much as I can can be challenging too. It's just kind of working with them and balancing all those different needs and personalities. As for opportunities, I definitely want to work up to being an office manager or a manager in some sense, or higher up in the level of the hospital. I want to get to know how everything works from the bottom up, so I definitely want to work my way up. I've also looked into schooling options, maybe even getting in the OR and helping out in that aspect for my role, because it's kind of scheduling surgeries - I wouldn't mind helping out in the OR too with the surgeries itself.

I really value being challenged and having variety in my work. When I worked in accounting, it was just doing the same thing every day, and to me it was a little repetitive. I like a little more not knowing what's gonna happen every day - that's why I switched roles into the executive, administrative roles, because every day was so different and challenging, and I like to be challenged in any position that I'm in. I also believe strongly in hard work and applying yourself fully to whatever you do. I think it's important to take on every task that you need to and work really well with others. And I believe that we all have to support each other as women - networking and supporting one another is really important to me.