Your Best Medicine With Paul Olatunde

Have you ever wondered what it's like to work at a hospital? What types of jobs are available here? Or what it means to be part of BJC, one of the largest nonprofit health care organizations in the country? Learn more in this series of interviews with the dedicated team members of Christian Hospital and Northwest HealthCare. 

How long have you been at CH/BJC?

I’ve been at Christian Hospital for over six years and this is my first hospital job. I always wanted to do something in health care, so I started off as a phlebotomist and did that for five years or so and it’s been very rewarding. Now I’m a blood drawer and work in the processing department.

In your job, how do you provide your best medicine to our patients?

If I start my day first as a blood drawer, a lot of patients don’t like being woke up and then you’re sticking them with a needle, so whenever I come into a room I’m always trying to be very pleasant and have a calm tone. I introduce myself and tell them I’m here to get some of their blood; and try to cater to the patient and ask them if they need anything while I’m there because it can be really scary for some people to be in the hospital.

What is your favorite thing/or most rewarding about your job?

I would say between the nurses and my team within the lab it’s absolutely fantastic to work here, as far as the environment. All of us really get along together. We definitely cater to each other, especially if we need coverage doing something. One example why I like working here – my coworker challenged me to try a new diet that would be classified as the Ketogenic diet. He did this a week before Thanksgiving 2017, thinking I’d probably not be able to do it since it was before the holidays, but he really motivated me and I’ve lost over 60 pounds from him challenging me, and I’ve kept the weight off, too.

Why do you choose to work at  Christian Hospital?

My father, Lawrence Olatunde, is a chaplain at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and has worked for BJC for over 25 years. He drilled into my head for a long time that I need to work in health care. He planted the seed and I live close to Christian Hospital, so I applied and wanted to get the health care atmosphere under my belt and I’ve not regretted it whatsoever. This place is fantastic as far as opportunities. Right now, I’m wrapping up my bachelor’s in health care management through BJC tuition reimbursement and graduate in April 2019, in pursuit of a position in health care administration.