"I am so grateful to be able to do this work'
Ophthalmic tech Rhonda Waldron reflects on 35 years at Emory Eye Center
On March 28, Rhonda Waldron celebrated 35 years at the Emory Eye Center - an accomplishment fueled as much by professional ambition as it is by love.
I worked as a retina tech and photographer in a private practice for a few years after I finished my training at Emory, but I just missed the doctors, the pathology, the patients at Emory. As soon as there was an opening, I came back.
The welcome mat was out.
Waldron says she felt blessed when her first job at Emory Eye Center had her working alongside Dr. Thomas Aaberg, a renowned retina specialist and the former chair of the department. It's hard for Waldron to sum up all of the lessons she learned from Aaberg over the course of their 20-year history. The words humility and compassion come up at regular intervals, however.
He taught me so much about retinal disease, but he also taught me so much more than that. He taught me not only how to treat patients but how to treat people -with warmth and respect,
she said.
And whether you were a physician or non-physician, he treated everyone the same. I found that all of the doctors at Emory followed suit, too. They aren't just good doctors. They are good people.
The collegiality of her mentors inspired Waldron to maintain her own high standards, even when times were tough.
We have many days when we are short-staffed and overbooked, and that can be hard,
she noted.
But I always try to think that there's a patient who needs me today and concentrate on that. In fact, many days when I get home from work my husband will ask me if I found the one that needed me today. My answer is inevitably 'yes'.
When I am in the exam room with a patient, I am so grateful to be able to do this work. Emory gets some of the toughest cases, the ones outside doctors can't handle. And it's amazing what we are able to do. I have learned so much from being here, and there is so much job satisfaction when you are able to help patients to see better or help give information to the doctors to aid in their diagnoses.
Waldron learned a lot outside the clinic as well - adding multiple certifications and trainings to her resume while working. In addition to being a certified medical technologist (COMT), she is a registered ophthalmic ultrasound biometrist (ROUB ), and a certified diagnostic ophthalmic sonographer (CDOS). In the clinic, she now specializes in ultrasound and intraocular lens (IOL) calculations.
In the late 90's Waldron took her knowledge and training to a new level by becoming a JCAHPO-accredited instructor. In this role, she has traveled the US, Canada, and Europe helping ophthalmic techs earn continuing education credits and giving talks on IOL calculations and ultrasound for physicians at professional conferences.
It might sound a bit contrived, but I think I probably affect more patients through my teaching than I do through my work in the clinic,
she said. Because if I can impart knowledge to others, hopefully patient care is improved on a much wider scale.
She pauses.
In a nutshell, it comes down to this: Let's say your next chart is a difficult patient - someone you know will try you and take a lot of time. But instead of thinking of yourself and how difficult it's going to be, I encourage people to think that maybe that's the patient who needs them the most today. The one who needs your patience, your kindness, your humility, and your specific skill set. Then, it will likely go much better. That's how I get through the days, and why I've worked here for so long. I love helping people.
-Kathleen E. Moore