Jennifer Evans

Details

Manager, Patient Services Call Center, UNC Hospital
Chapel Hill, NC
Age: 25
Education: B.S. in nutrition science from North Carolina State
Years at organization: 2

Why Selected?

According to Travis Watt, director of patient services, Jennifer has made an impact on dining services by:

•Reprogramming the diet office system and developing systems and protocols to run the new call center
•Developing a feedback/rating system in the call center for training and continuous improvement
•Demonstrating a desire to tackle new projects and assist with training

Get to know

Q. What has been your proudest accomplishment?

Being an integral player in the launch of Restaurant Delivery. I managed a call center that tripled in size and now handles approximately 1,500 phone calls from nurses and patients each day. Launching a program of this magnitude so early in my career has given me the confidence to take the initiative in many other aspects.
 

Q. What would you say you excel at over more seasoned colleagues?

I am the definition of a go-getter. I don’t quit and I’m always ready to take on the next challenge.
 

Q. What's the best career advice you've been given?

As long as you are always fair and consistent, your team will be able to respect and support you.
 

Q. What's been the biggest challenge you've had to overcome?

I am the youngest manager in our department. Working alongside individuals who had been in the business longer than I have been alive was intimidating. I knew that respect was earned and not given and I worked to build a rapport with my co-workers and employees. 

Q. What's been your most rewarding moment?

I remember a patient who was in the hospital for an extended period of time and he was, admittedly, a very picky eater. He brought in a recipe for a sauce that his wife made for him at home and asked if we could make it for him. I worked with one of our chefs and we were able to produce the sauce exactly how his wife made it. I remember visiting him and seeing the look of pure joy on his face as he took his first bite. After he was discharged, he and his wife sent me a very nice thank you note. It was nice to see how a little extra work made such a difference for this patient.
 

Q. What would you like to accomplish in your career in the next two years?

I have recently started my dietetic internship and am on the path to becoming a registered dietitian. My hope is to continue my career in foodservice management as an R.D.

Q. What's been your funniest on-the-job disaster?

We ran out of bananas. It was Saturday night and I know that it’s a pretty popular fruit at breakfast, so I was worried about the morning shift. I went to the nearest grocery store to stock up on bananas. I know I looked pretty ridiculous checking out with a cart full of bananas.