Erika's Career Journey
After graduating from Messiah's Family Studies program in 1996, Erika received her MS in Applied Family Science. She has worked in both a small community hospital and a large hospital, which has given her experience in a wide variety of specialties. Currently, she is leading the startup of a new hospital and is trying to open and expand a program at a specialty care site.
How has HDFS prepared you?
Erika shared, "The HDFS program provided me a foundation in family science theory, development and communication skill that prepared me to work with pediatric patients and their families." She emphasized that the developmental courses were most helpful to her career as well as the classes that focused on theory, grief, and play.
How does faith interface with your work?
Erika said that her faith is what helped her get through the challenges of her work. She shared, "Working in a hospital setting, you never know what each day will bring and who you may need to support in their most challenging moments. My prayer is that each day God's love will show through me in the way I care for those I meet."
Erika's Advice
Erika encourages current and future students to establish relationships with individuals in the field and always be on the lookout for opportunities to be mentored.