As part of Women’s History Month, LaTonya Lewis, program director, newborn screen counselor, and outreach education coordinator for the Region VI Sickle Cell Program, shares her thoughts on her career and what it means to be a woman in health care.
LaTonya Lewis
What is your role at Akron Children’s and how long have you been with the hospital?
I have been at Akron Children’s for 20 years in the Hematology/Oncology Department. I am the program director, newborn screen counselor, and outreach education coordinator for the Region VI Sickle Cell Program. I am responsible for grant writing, fundraising as well as overseeing various grant objectives. I am also responsible for counseling families on their child’s abnormal newborn screen results and participating in community outreach events to raise awareness of Sickle Cell Disease and Trait. Within our program, we cover a 14-county region and follow up on all abnormal newborn screen babies to ensure their parents know about whatever trait they have. I am also a member of various boards and community projects.
Can you share what you love most about your job?
One of the things I love most about my job is meeting new families and planning and implementing community outreach events. I am also grateful that we have an awesome sickle cell team. Our primary goal is to take care of our patients and try to make a child’s chronic illness the best journey it can be, despite the diagnosis. Interacting with these families affords us the opportunity to briefly become a part of these families lives. Watching them face adversity and grow through it has been the most rewarding experience. Our patients are with us from birth until age of 21, then they transition to adult care. I truly love interacting with my patients and their families and honestly would not trade it for anything.
What does it mean to you to be a woman in health care?
Being a women in health care means recognizing the sacrifices of those who have paved the way for me and who have enabled me to be in this position. I am honored to serve and share my experiences through my passion, work ethic and dedication to others. It means striving and thriving to be my best and do my best to connect with others and stay relevant as well. As a woman, I believe we are powerful, resilient and master planners as we balance the priorities of life, home, work, family and career. The impact women have contributed and made to the medical industry has been historic and significant. One of the most significant contributions is having an African American woman as the vice president of External Affairs, Bernett Williams, here at the hospital. It’s important to see more women of color who look like me in leadership positions at Akron Children’s. Overall, I am grateful to be able to make my mark and impact the medical industry as others have done so before me and for me to leave a legacy of accomplishments and greatness for others to follow.
