Today's Healthcare Heroes | Susan Demick, HR

What is your position and department?
I work as the HR Recruiter out of the Human Resources department.

What does a typical day look like in your position?
Every day is a bit crazy.  But that is life in HR – everywhere! Always challenging and fast paced. Many of my job duties revolve around recruiting and filling open positions but it's also important to work hard to retain current employees. The beauty of this job is that it is never boring and comes with a great sense of accomplishment. In the end, we just try to serve our managers and employees the best we can.

How long have you been at Watertown Regional Medical Center? Have you always been in the same position?
I started in HR at Watertown Regional Medical Center in August of 2020.  My husband and I moved to Watertown to be closer to family and our three grandchildren. Before moving here, I had worked 20+ years in HR at Affinity Health (now Ascension) in the Fox Valley, and at a Community Health Center in Wautoma. It's been a lot of fun to get to know the people of Watertown and the surrounding communities, especially all of the great employees we have here at WRMC.

What was your inspiration for getting into healthcare?
While human resources is a department in every industry, I have always been proud to work within healthcare. It is truly a field made up of passionate people who truly care about taking care of others. It is inspiring to see and be around these doctors, nurses, and support staff on a daily basis!

What’s new in your department? Are there any new technologies being utilized?
Besides keeping up with the new challenges that pop-up every day, especially those involving the current labor market, we look forward to helping Watertown Regional Medical Center's employees transition to ScionHealth in 2022 and 2023. And, hopefully, the good news of putting the COVID-19 pandemic behind us sometime soon.

As far as technology goes, we do our best to keep up with the times. Community members looking for a job can find us on many of the major job posting platforms including ZipRecruiter, Indeed, Glassdoor, and Monster. However, the best place to find a listing of all of our open positions, is right here on our website. Just click on the careers tab and then view "All Current Openings" by clicking on the button.

Why do you believe patients can Count on Watertown Regional Medical Center for safe and quality care?
I believe patients come to Watertown Regional Medical Center because we offer excellent services close to home. Our primary care and specialty doctors are highly trained and use the latest technologies to take care of you. WRMC is a "Five-Star" hospital and consistently receives an "A" grade for quality and safety and this is owed to the dedication and loyalty of the staff and providers.

What do you enjoy most about working at Watertown Regional Medical Center?
While starting a recruiting position in as hospital during a pandemic has certainly had its challenges, I have found the staff at Watertown Regional Medical Center to be welcoming and kind. I often hear this from other new staff and visitors - “everyone is so friendly”.  While we all face issues in our work and personal lives, the key to making WRMC a great place to work is for us all to be kind to each other. That is how we move forward and achieve great things.

What are some of your interests outside of work? What is your favorite local gem in the Watertown area?
My interests include spending time with my family, especially my grandchildren ages 2, 2, and 1. I also like gardening and enjoying my husband’s hobby of homebrewing and wine making! Regarding local gems - my husband and I moved to Watertown right before COVID-19 started and we all became housebound.  Now that we feel more comfortable getting out more, we are just starting to explore the area. I would love to hear your recommendations of favorite “gems”.