Sep 20, 2018 / Spotlight

Get to Know our SRH Staff: Wendy Wittenbrook, Clinical Dietitian

Meet Wendy - a clinical dietitian who has been working at our hospital for 18 years. Congratulations to Wendy -  she recently received the 2017 Behavioral Health Nutrition Award for Excellence in Practice for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

Learn more about Wendy and her role at our hospital in our #SRHstaff spotlight below.

What’s your favorite part of your job?
Developing relationships with patients and their families and the ability to follow them until they are 18 years old.
 
What’s your favorite thing about the hospital?
The multidisciplinary, family-centered care we provide to our patients to ensure their needs are met.
 
Describe a typical day.
3 days a week I have morning clinic and in the afternoon I have rounds and then follow up on outpatients and inpatients.  The other days are variable, with patient follow up, paperwork, inpatient care and research.
 
How long have you worked here?
18 years.
 
How did you find out about the hospital?
I found a job posting in the Dallas Morning News (print edition) on a Sunday morning.
 
What made you want to work here?
I was interested in working with children and had enjoyed my pediatric rotation during my Coordinated Program in Dietetics.  I loved the philosophy of the hospital and when I drove up for my interview I was amazed at how beautiful the campus was.
 
What skills do you need for your job?
Assessment, compassion, organization, critical thinking, listening, counseling, speaking and multitasking.
 
What was your first job? What path did you take to get here?
After I completed my Master’s degree, I worked 1.5 years at a community-based organization for people with HIV/AIDS in San Antonio.  Then I lived in Chicago for 3 years and worked at the Cook County Hospital CORE Center for people with HIV/AIDS, which offered a multidisciplinary, patient-centered approach to care.  In 2000, my husband and I decided to move back to Texas before starting our family.
 
What is your favorite…
  • Hospital event: Pancake breakfast
  • Food in the cafeteria: Dessert-especially the chocolate cake with chocolate mousse and ganache!
  • Place in the hospital: Chapel
What’s your favorite…
  • Place to travel: Europe
  • Type of food: Italian
  • TV show: This is Us, Friends
If you could have a super power, what would it be?
Healing
 
What did you want to be when you grew up?
Teacher or nurse
 
What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?
Snorkeling in Alaska. It was amazing!
 
What’s the last book you read?
The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris and War and Peace - I love historical fiction. 
 
What kind of animal would you be?
Dog.
 
How long is your commute? What do you do on the drive?
40-50 minutes each way-listen to news, check traffic, occasionally call my mom or friends
 
What is something people don’t know about you?
In high school, I was a twirler and played percussion.
        
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
“Eye of the Tiger”
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