In an organization as big as Duke Health, it takes a village to provide all that a patient needs. The career opportunities are endless: as long as you have a heart for patients, there is bound to be a role that suits your talent, work style, and way of caring.
That’s certainly true for Shanel Boatswain Theirse.
I chose my path because I wanted a career that would help patients, but I'm quite reserved, and I don't like to be in the spotlight. Pharmacy allows me to actively help patients while remaining in the background. I get to experience the true meaning of patient care in a way that suits my personality."
Shanel Boatswain Theirse, BS, CPhT
Pharmacy Technician II, Duke University HospitalWith Duke since 2020
That sense of meaning is important to Shanel, a pharmacy technician II at Duke University Hospital’s Continuity of Care Team. In fact, she joined Duke in 2020 based on our reputation for quality.
“The hospital and university are world-renowned for being purposeful and precise, and I wanted to work at a place that prides itself on excellence,” she said.
In her role, Shanel works with the pharmacist teams that support Cardiology DHP, PAC and General Thoracic patients, collecting patient medication histories to help medical teams and pharmacists make safe and informed decisions.
“In just four years, Duke has helped me grow into one of the most reliable and trusted people on my team, inspired me to invest in myself personally, and made me eager to continue in this amazing work environment,” says Shanel.
Much of that growth came from continuing education. When Shanel decided to go back to school while continuing to work full-time, her managers cheered her on, approving time off for school events and providing her with a partner to share the workload and help her avoid burnout.
“Their flexibility and support allowed me to finish my degree while maintaining my career at Duke,” she says. Today, her manager continues to advocate for her growth and development and is helping her search for the next great role.
That kind of support is the reason Shanel is choosing to stay at Duke.
“This place has enabled me to make the big, exciting decisions, like finishing my bachelor's degree and building my forever home,” she said. “Between the educational culture and the support I get from my team members, the atmosphere here is just so encouraging; it inspires me to continually improve.”