Darlene Stone was in high school when she first got interested in healthcare and began working in an entry-level position. Today, she's in a leadership role and helps run Stormont Vail Health.

Brooke McDonnell always knew she wanted to help people. Today, she does just that at Stormont Vail Health. 

As a teenager, Connie Wagers volunteered at Stormont Vail Health. Connie's mother saw how much she enjoyed her time there and encouraged her to apply to the radiology program. Today, Connie is the Director of Medical Imaging Services. 

Michael Ramirez has always loved sports. His passion led him to pursue a career in sports medicine, and today he's the director of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy at Stormont Vail Health.

Justin Barnes started in an entry-level position at Stormont Vail Health, then worked his way up to where he is today: managing a large unit. 

"When I was a child, I wanted to be the next Oprah. I loved watching her on TV and seeing the impact she made. I knew I wanted a job that could make a similar difference with people. Then when I got to high school, I really got interested in joining the military. I took a basic first aid course that taught everything you needed to know about first aid in survival situations like car accidents or fires. This class got me started thinking about a career in health care.

“My mom was a single parent. While she worked, I often spent time with older relatives and neighbors, helping them out. This taught me to be a caretaker at an early age. I always imagined myself going into nursing. I volunteered in high school assisting people with disabilities. Then one day in tenth grade I came across an article about occupational therapy (OT), and I thought that might be the perfect fit.