Front and Center: Geneva Lindsey

Geneva Lindsey knows that sometimes the smallest gestures can make the biggest difference. That's why the first thing she does when she arrives for her 12-hour shift in the surgical intensive care unit is make coffee. 

"That is happy for everybody," Lindsey said. "Then I come to my desk and run all the reports and the census. I keep up with the patients coming in and out." 

It's a simple routine, but one that reflects the approach Lindsey has brought to UMMC since joining the Medical Center in 2004. As the surgical ICU secretary, she helps keep one of the hospital's busiest units running smoothly, tracking admissions and discharges, supporting nurses and physicians and offering a reassuring presence to patients and families during some of their most difficult days. 

“I’m all about customer service,” she said. “We need to support the families that stay here, because often these people are devastated.” 

Whether someone is looking for a patient room or trying to find their way through the hospital, Lindsey believes every interaction matters. 

“If I see somebody in the hallway looking around, I’m asking, ‘May I help you? Do you know where you need to go?’” she said. "They come in and the first thing they say is, ‘I’m lost.' I tell them, ‘No, you’re not lost. We won’t let you get lost. You can ask anybody in scrubs, and we will get you where you need to go.’  

"We try to acknowledge their stress, their exhaustion, their fears. It’s important to always offer clear communication, emotional support or even just a small ‘Good morning.’” 

Those moments of connection are what drew Lindsey to the Medical Center after spending 24 years as the director of child development at her church. 

“I’m a people person,” she said. “I have to be around people. I’ve got to get myself out.” 

Her love of people extends to her coworkers as much as it does patients and families. Every morning, she makes a point to check in with the unit. 

“I make my rounds every morning and ask them, ‘Do y’all need anything? Is there anything I can do for you?’” 

She believes teamwork is the foundation of exceptional patient care. 

“Teamwork is togetherness, keeping together is progress and working together is success,” she said. “A truly great coworker is hard to find, difficult to part with and impossible to forget.” 

Those who have had the opportunity to work with Lindsey would say she fits that criteria. 

"[Lindsey] consistently goes above and beyond her job responsibilities," said Melissa Easterling, a nurse who works in the unit. "She is always willing to help staff, patients and visitors alike. Her positive attitude brightens the days of those fortunate enough to work alongside her. Her commitment to excellence and her love for UMMC is evident in everything she does. 

"She makes a difference, even to people she may not realize are paying attention. Sometimes the smallest acts of kindness leave the biggest impression. She's done that for me and I'm sure many others."  

Lindsey is quick to redirect that praise to the people around her. “Great things are never done by one person,” she said. “It’s done by a team of people. It takes a village.” 

Working at UMMC since 2004, she has been with the Medical Center long enough to witness dramatic changes in health care. One of the biggest, she said, was moving from paper charts to electronic medical records. 

“Once things moved to EPIC, it was so much easier than paper charting,” she said. “The training was long, but it made my job easier. You put me on a computer and I’m good.” 

While technology has evolved, many of the faces around her have remained the same. Lindsey said she’s grateful for those lasting relationships, but that she’s equally comfortable welcoming new teammates. 

“I’m not stressed,” she said. “Adjusting to change is different when you work under stress.” 

Her steady outlook is part of culture she tries to foster in the surgical ICU. 

“Everything with me is on a happy note,” Lindsey said. “That’s just part of who I am. I try to keep this unit as happy as possible. And a good attitude is just everything. When you change your outlook on life, it changes life itself.” 

Outside the hospital, Lindsey enjoys spending time with her three children and three grandchildren, whose encouragement has helped her continue doing the work she loves. 

“My children are so sweet,” she said. “They just make sure I have everything that I need. Their support is one reason why I am able to keep working.” 

She also finds peace at home watching the wildlife outside her window. 

“I feed the hummingbirds and the cardinals,” she said. “I have everything set up so when I sit in my recliner, I can see the birds and the squirrels outside.” 

After more than 20 years at UMMC, Lindsey has no plans to slow down.