The first two years of employment with the DMC for me was a whirlwind. I took my mentor’s advice and kept a low profile. I was trusted as an employee, looked up to by our current administration, and learned more than books could teach me about life working/living in the heart of the city. This was literally a medical city within a city. Most of all the buildings and hospitals were connected by tunnels. The only outside I would see would be when a special lab request would have me looking for and address or building within the confides of Wayne State University. I was always given the task, because I enjoyed it, locating a special lab or Doctor on the campus. I found them in what I would term some of the most remote urban areas. They could be located on the third floor of an old house or building that had only staircases. It would not be uncommon for the first two floors to be vacant and the Research Labs to be on the top floors. The researcher’s always seemed happy to see me with the lab envelope carrying a specimen. They would stamp the slip as received and give me back my copy for the lab report. They knew I was a student, and they all spoke highly of the sciences. They had hoped I would find the sciences as fascinating as I did finding them and their labs in theses obscure places. I did. Science always fascinated me.
However, after enjoying the first two years of working for the DMC-labs, I was brought to a meeting with the Facility Maintenance Director and the Administrator overseeing the Hospital’s renovation plans. They had a proposal for me. They wanted me to take a position within Facilities Administration overseeing the renovation projects the hospital was now actively engaged in. Every nursing unit throughout the hospital system would be renovated. They would close one nursing unit and move them to a brand new renovated nursing unit. My job would be to follow a punch list and make sure the contractor’s work was completed. This position would be at night. They knew I was in school so they thought it would be a good way to complete my Bachelor Degree. I would be paid at a supervisor’s pay scale and my hours would be prorated so that I could continue my studies during the day. I was scheduled to work 24-32 hours a week getting in around 3:00PM and leaving by 11:30PM. Management would be flexible with my schedule. They needed someone to follow-up on the contractors, “would I be interested?” They thought it would give me a chance to see what Hospital managers do, and I agreed to do it. I was in the last year of finishing my Bachelor of Science degree and I needed the flexibility in scheduling to complete the requirements for the degree. They even offered me a free apartment in the Medical facility in case the weather got bad and I didn’t want to risk the travel.
It was an offer I could not refuse to pass up. I told the hospital administration I would accept it. They couldn’t wait for me to start. Usually, the departments give each other a two week notice when transferring employees between departments. That was not the case here. I started the following Monday over seeing the contractors and cleanup of the old Grace Hospital deconstruction. It was really something. The place where Harry Houdini died, ( his followers still held seances in the room he died on Halloween), was no more. Kind of sad too because the Grace Hospital Cafeteria had some of the best home cooked meals that cost only $1.10. I would definitely miss that. Once the old hospital was removed the site would be prepared for what would be the new ambulatory care surgical center. This was the beginning of my career with the Detroit Medical Center. It was were I was born, and where I grew into a man. I would eventually get married and my children would be born there. I had adventures and journeys that only this place could have taught me and I will never forget them or be thankful enough that I left the factories to work there. NEXT POST…Back at the prison…
Putin and his band of murder terrorist’s need to be held accountable for their war crimes in the Ukraine as they indiscriminately missal residential buildings and kill civilians. Russia is a terrorist state. Putin and his minions have stolen trillions of dollars from the Russian people for more than 20 years buying million dollar yachts, dachas, and funneling their ill gotten gains into accounts not easily traced. So they think. Note to Putin and his minions: Everything electronic is traceable. Slava Ukraine
MJ-Way 