Pam Engel was working as a home health nurse, but her life changed on December 17, 2009, when she embarked on a career change, and The Orthopaedic Group, P.C. hired a gem!
While working for a home health agency for over ten years, Pam made many friends with our staff while visiting our office. During her visit on that day in December 2009, one of her friends asked her, “Do you want to change fields?” After 28 years of being an RN, Pam was intrigued by the idea. Despite never working in an orthopaedic practice, she decided to embark on a career change.
For the past 11 years, Pam has worked as the primary nurse for Dr. Mason in our office in Foley, Alabama. We recently celebrated Pam’s retirement with a small office gathering and a cake. During the celebration, Pam said she is most thankful for the extended family she has developed. “The friendships with the physicians, my coworkers, and all the memories I am taking with me is something I will cherish.”
Pam says she will miss working with her friends, but our patients are who she will miss the most. Pam has been overwhelmed by the patients who have reached out to share their gratitude after hearing about her retirement. Pam says the most rewarding thing for her is the love she has for the patients, and we have seen the love they share for her.
Given the opportunity to say something, Pam said, “In the garden of life, when you plant good seeds, beautiful things grow. Some of the flowers are friendships like those of coworkers and patients and the reward of caring for others. Your work will fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. The only way to do great work is to love what you do. I have been very blessed throughout my career, so I’m going to stop living at work and start working at living and writing the next chapter of my book.”
As a mother of five and grandmother of four, Pam does not anticipate slowing down during retirement. She is looking forward to spending time with her husband, adult children, and being a grandmother. She recently received the devastating news that her home has severe mold. So, her first significant post-retirement project is designing and building a new home.
