Kenrick C. Samuel, PhD, lead technologist for the George Washington University (GW) Medical Faculty Associates (MFA) Center for Sleep Disorders, supports patients in one of the greatest ways possible: he helps them sleep better. Samuel, however, is not just a technologist; he is an accomplished scholar, one who earned three degrees, including his doctorate, during his time at the GW MFA. In this Q&A, he talks philosophy, what the job means to him, and the value of teamwork.
Q. What is your role at GW, and what does it entail?
Samuel: I am the lead technologist for the GW MFA Center for Sleep Disorders. Here, we run diagnostic tests to help identify a plethora of sleep disorders in conjunction with the doctor’s examinations and diagnosis. We try to provide treatment modalities that will assist patients to get better sleep and overall have better health.
Q. What kind of impact has your work had on patients?
Samuel: We have treated perhaps thousands of patients over the years and have had testimonies about restorative sleep and better health overall.
Q. What accomplishments are you particularly proud of?
Samuel: Since I started here, I have been encouraged to further my education. As a result of my working environment, I was able to accomplish my bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD degrees.
The working relationship and camaraderie with my coworkers have fostered a stressless environment. I am thankful for the team that I work with and the leadership of Mr. Shawn Kimbro, manager.
Q. What lessons have you learned while working here?
Samuel: If there is one lesson that I’ve learned that has carried us through the years, it is this: teamwork. All employees are encouraged to maintain a working relationship that stresses team participation. “United we stand; divided we fall.”
Q. What excites you the most about your job?
Samuel: The continual need for our specialty services excites me [and the opportunity for] active engagement with the public and medical staff alike. We are here to serve, and I do believe we serve others well. If we as an organization adapt that concept, we will always be relevant.
