Esther Shafer is currently working for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, providing care for the Tohono O-odham Nation.
After spending a total of five years as an intern for Occupational Health Services (OHS), former Werner H. Kirsten (WHK) intern Esther Shafer moved across the country to join the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. She now works on a reservation in southern Arizona, where she is providing medicine—and reading material—for the Tohono O-odham Nation.
Before leaving last year, Shafer remarked to Scientific Library staff that she would miss the annual book swap and wondered what would happen to the unclaimed books. In the past, leftover books have been given to Goodwill Industries, Heartly House, and Select Seconds at Frederick Memorial Hospital. For the 2017 Book Swap, the Library staff decided to send the unclaimed books to Esther so she could share them with the reservation.
When she returned to visit family over the holidays, she selected books that would be appropriate for her patients. She then set up a display in the children’s area of the clinic, where the books proved to be very popular. In an email with Scientific Library staff, Esther said, “Those kiddos already love the books. I refilled the bin twice today!”
“The Scientific Library staff is so happy that Esther could put the leftover Book Swap books to good use, and that the children are now able to experience the joys of reading!” said Robin Meckley, Public Services Librarian.
Esther interned with OHS for a total of five years—as a WHK intern from 2013–2014 and then with a special Cancer Research Training Award contract that allowed her to work year-round from August 2014 until August 2017.
She assisted with wellness events and festivals, taught monthly First Aid and CPR classes, made school visits for the Educational Outreach Program, assisted at the front desk, and worked on the clinic floor. Her favorite assignment, though, was working with the Research Donor Program (RDP).
“The program was enjoyable because labs were always requesting different specimens, which made the list of responsibilities change on a daily basis,” Esther said. “Within the RDP, there are many donors we established a relationship with. At OHS, patients and donors are more than patients and donors, they are friends!”
In addition to healthcare, Esther is also interested in teaching and hopes her future career will be a combination of the two. After receiving her bachelor’s degree, she plans on pursuing a Master’s in Nursing Education.
Esther knew that she always wanted to work in the healthcare industry, and she credits her internship for giving her an additional set of skills and certifications. Thanks to her internship with OHS, she was able to sit for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant exam.
“At many colleges,” Esther explained, “medical assisting is a two-year program, and I was able to bypass that process altogether.”
Since moving on from her internship, Esther feels that her biggest accomplishment has been courage. She shared a favorite quote, from Eleanor Roosevelt: “The future belongs to those that believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
“Dreams will only remain dreams unless we find courage in our lives to turn those dreams into action,” said Esther. “After leaving NCI, I dug deeper, and fought harder for myself than ever before. Finding the courage to try new things, take risks, and accept a challenge is never easy, but I have found there is a great adventure behind finding courage.”
