Name: Stephanie Barnett
Hometown: Portsmouth
Place of work: Lawrence County Health Department
Background/education: Shawnee State Associate Degree
What drew you to the health care field? Desire to work with people and hopefully make a difference in someone’s life.
How long have you been working in the field? Began in 1980 with some time away from nursing while raising family.
What is the most rewarding part of your job? Striving to see the health of citizens improved in Lawrence County.
What is the biggest challenge? Currently, Covid-19.
Is the job different than what you expected when you entered school? Public health nursing is different but equally as rewarding.
What do you enjoy doing for fun? Spending time with family and love the relaxation of working puzzles.
How would your co-workers describe you? I’m not really sure, but I hope they would see me as caring.
What gives you encouragement in difficult times? My faith in God to be my strength through both the good and the bad times.
Who is your biggest role model and why? My dad. I’m sure without even realizing it, he taught me so much. Through his example he instilled a strong work ethic in me and to treat others the way you would want to be treated. He was “hands down” the kindest person.

Name: Angela Lynn Bostick-Doyle MSN, RN
Hometown: Racine, Ohio
Place of work: Lawrence County Health Department
Background/education: Associate Degree of nursing, University of Rio Grande, Bachelor’s Degree in nursing Ohio University, Master’s Degree in nursing with concentration in education Walden University
What drew you to the health care field? I honestly believe it is what God has chosen for me to do with my life. I can not imagine doing anything but nursing.
How long have you been working in the field? I have been in Nursing for going on 30 years. I started out as a nursing assistant while I was in nursing school and have been in the field every since.
What is the most rewarding part of your job? I find it most rewarding knowing that I have the ability to make an impact in people’s lives. It may not seem huge to me, but it is huge to them.
What is the biggest challenge? The biggest challenge in nursing is not having all the resources to help everyone, every time. I wish I could change that.
Is the job different than what you expected when you entered school? I think every day is met with new challenges, but I think it is exactly what I signed up for.
What do you enjoy doing for fun? Anytime that I get to spend with my family is always fun for me.
How would your co-workers describe you? I think they would describe me as focused, a good multi-tasker, considerate of others and that I always lead with my heart.
What gives you encouragement in difficult times? I draw encouragement from prayer, my team (we have a great support system) and my family.
Who is your biggest role model and why? My biggest role model is my dad. He has taught me right from wrong, my strong work ethic. He has taught me how to look at life and enjoy the small victories and welcome challenges. Every step that we endure develops the true character we are in life. I think I am better person because of him.

Name: Craig Harvey
Hometown: Ironton
Place of work: Our Lady of Bellefonte, King’s Daughters Medical Center
Background/education: BSN University of Tennessee, MS Marshall University
What drew you to the health care field? My grandmother (Alma Talley) had a stroke when I was a freshman in high school.  She moved in with our family and I was her primary caregiver while my parents were at work.  I loved taking care of her and wanted to do that for a living.
How long have you been working in the field? 20 years of working as an RN and 15 years of teaching nursing at Ohio University Southern and Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital.
What is the most rewarding part of your job? Making an impact in someone’s life during a difficult and stressful time.
What is the biggest challenge? Balancing hands-on care for people while fulfilling the mandates of interacting with a computer for documentation and resources.
Is the job different than what you expected when you entered school? The job is definitely different than what I expected, but that is also the beauty of the dynamic, ever-changing nature of health care that makes it exciting.
What do you enjoy doing for fun? Sporting events and live music…remember those things?
How would your co-workers describe you? Trustworthy, willing to help and willing to learn, reliable and funny.
What gives you encouragement in difficult times? My family: mom – Ann, dad-Steve, wife- Beth and my four kids- D, Kass, Tyson and Charley.  Also, faith in my co-workers, supervisors and God.
Who is your biggest role model and why? My papaw, Charles J. Harvey, was my hero.  He was a WW2 vet that always encouraged me to be my best and was always brutally honest. Nobody in my life has made a bigger impact because of his balance of love and tough love.  I hope that one day people remember me like I remember him, as a good man that made an impact!

Name: Heather Lambert 
Hometown: Ironton
Place of work: Ironton City Schools
Background/education:  I began my career as a CNA at Bryant’s Healthcare Center back in 1991. I earned my LPN license at Collins Career Center in 1995. I then spent the next 17 years at KDMC. I obtained my RN degree in 2001 from The University of Rio Grande. During the last six years, I have worked several PRN jobs, including substitute school nurse at Ironton City Schools and Ironton Catholic Schools, while also working in the float pool at OLBH. I worked there until it’s unfortunate closure last week. I’ve had my Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing since 2015 and I’ve been a Licensed School Nurse for two years now. For the last year, I have proudly served as the full-time School Nurse for Ironton Elementary and Middle Schools.
What drew you to the health care field? I always knew that I wanted to work in healthcare!
How long have you been working in the field? Nearly 30 year.
What is the most rewarding part of your job? The most rewarding part of my job is all the hugs that I get from our kids at school! Gosh, how I’m missing those hugs right now! My job as a school nurse is also very fulfilling because I have the chance to really help some of these kids get the healthcare that they need. I could go on all day about how rewarding this job is 🙂
What is the biggest challenge? Our biggest challenge right now is that we are not able to be at school due to COVID-19.
Is the job different than what you expected when you entered school? It sure is! I had no idea that I could work in so many different areas as a nurse.
What do you enjoy doing for fun? I really enjoy spending time with my family. I have an 8-year-old daughter and an 11-year-old son, so their activities normally keep my husband and me pretty busy!

How would your co-workers describe you? I hope they would say that I’m friendly and helpful. I have great co-workers. We really are like a big family at the schools!
What gives you encouragement in difficult times? I feel that difficult times help us to learn and grow. There’s been so many challenges with this pandemic, lots of emotions, stresses and so many changes in our daily lives. But one big thing that I’ve realized is that for the most part, our community is working together. And I’m proud of this small town.
Who is your biggest role model and why? It’s so hard to name just one role model! I’ve worked with some of the best nurses in this area and I’ve learned something from each of them 🙂

Name: Laura Roe
Hometown: Flatwoods, Kentucky
Place of work: Harbor Healthcare
Background/education: 1991 Graduate of Russell High School. Associates degree from Rio Grande College.
What drew you to the health care field? Wanting to help others during difficult times.
How long have you been working in the field? 29 years, working mainly in long term care with geriatrics.
What is the most rewarding part of your job? Caring for others hearing the elders’ stories and making a difference in their lives.
What is the biggest challenge? Caring for someone and becoming their extended family and then having to let them go.
What do you enjoy doing for fun? Spending time with family and friends.
How would your co-workers describe you? Friendly, caring, compassionate.
What gives you encouragement in difficult times? Knowing the care I provide to others is appreciated and making a difference in an elderly persons life.

Name: Annette M. Scott. aka Ms. Annette
Hometown: Ironton
Place of work: Retired school nurse — now a Substitute School Nurse for Ironton City Schools
Background/education: I initially started my nursing career in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and transferred to St. Mary’s Hospital School of nursing after getting married. I furthered my education at Ohio University Southern Campus for my Bachelors Degree in nursing and my school nurse certificate.
What drew you to the health care field? I always enjoyed helping people. When I was younger I had a kids nursing outfit and kit. I made my 2 younger brothers play doctor and nurse while one was the patient. In high school I attended the vocational school for the Medical Dental Assistant Program. My intention was to go into the dental field, but fell in LOVE with the medical program. It went on from there.
How long have you been working in the field? I’ve been in nursing for a long time and was blessed to be able to retire in June, 2019. I worked at Lawrence County General Hospital, later called River Vally Hospital for 10 years in the pediatrics/medical surgical floors as well as home health. I then worked at St. Joseph and St. Lawrence Schools and Ironton City Schools as the school nurse. Overall 36 years of nursing.
What is the most rewarding part of your job? I am rewarded every time I’m able to help someone, especially children. I love making others laugh and smile but mostly feel better. Helping is a spiritual gift from God and I believe that is one God has given me.
What is the biggest challenge? The biggest challenge is knowing that you can’t help everyone, whether spiritually, physically, mentally or even financially, but do the best you can.
Is the job different than what you expected when you entered school? In nursing school you had lots of personal care and hands on with patients. I loved it, but as you advance in education and in technology things change. You no longer have patients, but now they’re called clients and advances have taken away that one on one. In school nursing, you’re back to one on one and you have responsibilities to all the students and staff. I LOVE IT!!!!
What do you enjoy doing for fun? I love to travel and go to different places to experience different scenery, foods and culture. I also enjoy playing card and board games. I love to read, but now it seems as the book is reading me as I fall asleep easily while reading.
How would your co-workers describe you? Fun loving, just, direct, happy and caring. (I guess they would- I’ve heard some say that before).
What gives you encouragement in difficult times? I’m encouraged because I know that Christ is coming back one day to make all things right and I know that God is in control of EVERYTHING.
Who is your biggest role model and why? JESUS is my role model and I pray and strive to be like Him everyday, because he set the ultimate example of being humble, caring, obedient and sacrificial. The list is extensive and He Loves all of us.