Anna Dusseau (left) helped her daughter, Lily Heath, figure out her career after college. Lily found a rewarding job in the Akron Children’s NeuroDevelopmental Science Center where her mom also works.
Two years ago, Lily Heath, psychometrist in Akron Children’s Neurobehavioral Health, found herself at a crossroads. As she prepared to graduate from The University of Akron with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and criminology, she realized the career she had chosen was not right for her.
“I thought I wanted to become a police officer, but the closer I got to finishing my degree, the more I knew it wasn’t what I wanted to do,” Lily said.
It turns out what Lily was looking for was right in front of her the whole time.
For more than 14 years, Lily had listened to her mom, Anna Dusseau, continuing medical education coordinator in Akron Children’s NeuroDevelopmental Science Center (NDSC), share stories about her job. Her mom talked about her projects and people with whom she interacted. Sometimes, Anna even included Lily, her brother and dad in extracurricular activities sponsored by Akron Children’s, such as volunteering at a regional foodbank or participating in fun runs and fundraisers. Anna’s enthusiasm for her work came through loud and clear to Lily.
Feeling discouraged, Lily talked to her parents about what kind of jobs she could get with the degree she planned to earn. Her mom helped her connect the dots to use what she already had.
Looking for a rewarding job
In her role in Akron Children’s NDSC, Anna asks a lot of questions to ensure the Center offers the right medical education and training for its providers and staff, fellows and pediatric residents. She did the same thing with Lily, homing in on Lily’s minor, forensic psychology. That is where they found what interested Lily.
Anna Dusseau (right) talks to Dr. Dami Omoniyi, a fellow in Akron Children’s Developmental Behavioral Pediatric Fellowship program.
“My mom helped me figure out how to use what I had,” Lily said. “She talked to me about different jobs and that’s when I decided to become a psychometrist. I liked the fact that I would have a health care career where I could make a difference in people’s lives.” (Learn what a psychometrist does at Akron Children’s.)
Lily was especially interested in working with children. When she was 7, she was diagnosed with ADHD and anxiety and was seen by clinicians in Children’s NDSC. The care she received helped her succeed in school. Back then, Children’s didn’t have psychometrists on staff. That meant the neuropsychologists did the testing themselves to confirm diagnoses, which potentially delayed a child getting the care they needed.
“We started seeing traits in Lily that were consistent with ADHD,” Anna said. “Her grades started to slip. We were lucky to have the resources here that we did. They helped Lily, and they helped my husband and me. We were able to improve our parenting skills so we better understood Lily’s disorder and knew what to do to manage it.”
Getting hired at Children’s
After completing relevant coursework in her undergraduate program, Lily applied for a job at Akron Children’s and went through several rounds of interviews. Then she waited and hoped.
“I was visiting my parents and standing in my old childhood bedroom when I got the call from Akron Children’s offering me the job,” she said. “After hanging up, I started yelling. I was so happy!”
Anna, too, was “over the moon” when she heard.
Lily Heath and Dr. Brittney Williams, pediatric neuropsychologist, discuss a patient’s test results.
“Akron Children’s is such a great organization,” Anna said. “I am so happy for Lily. She is being introduced to a workforce where there is a great culture and many opportunities.”
Lily, who recently completed her first year at Children’s, credits her mom with many of the experiences she has had.
“I was with my co-workers on a new employee tour of the campus, pointing out different things that I learned about through my mom,” she said. “It’s a nice feeling to work here and share those things with my colleagues, thanks to my mom.”
Shape your future at Akron Children’s by visiting our Careers website.)
