Celebrating Black History Month – Pamela Thomas
This year, Memorial is celebrating Black History Month by spotlighting members of our team who embody our mission of healing, inspiring, and transforming the health of our community.
Pamela has been part of the Memorial team for 19 years in Professional Development. She is an Education Technology Specialist in this department, and she shares that her role differs from day to day. She says, “I am the editor of the department’s newsletter, The Source, and I also handle all the marketing aspects of the department. I am tasked with ensuring the department SharePoint site is updated monthly. I assist internal customers with Resuscitation Skills Check-off weekly. I provide audio-visual support within the department and whenever it is needed for organizational events. I love the fact that my job is not repetitive and providing technical support for others allows me to meet and interact with a diverse group of people throughout the organization.”
She was nominated by a team member for this spotlight, who wrote, “Pam is honest, thoughtful, and a silent contributor to the success of her team. Her work product is commendable, and she welcomes opportunities to improve processes. Her creativity is regularly on display with The Source, the department’s website, and internal publications. I have enjoyed working with Pam because of her strong work ethic, her professionalism, and her very pleasant demeanor. She not only supports her team, but she also supports technology requests for organizational events and meetings and provides technical assistance and troubleshooting expertise to assist users with computer, audio-visual, and equipment needs throughout the organization. She is very knowledgeable and exhibits a level of patience and empathy that makes working with her a pleasant experience.”
A time to celebrate and pay tribute
To Pamela, Black History Month is a “celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time to recognize their central role in U.S. history. It is a time to pay tribute to those who have struggled with adversity.”
When asked about an inspirational Black historical figure, Pamela shares, “Dr. Dorothy Irene Height, amongst many, was an African American civil rights and women’s rights activist. She focused on the issues of African American women, including unemployment, illiteracy, and voter awareness.
I was raised in one of the first African American communities in Gulfport. The community was established in 1966 by the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) in cooperation with the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The community was named Forest Heights as a tribute to Dorothy Height, who was president of the NCNW from 1947-4977.”
Learning each day of the year
Pamela shares, “Daily, for the entire month each year, I educate myself and my daughters on some of the unknown African Americans who paved the way, i.e. inventors, educators, nurses, and such. During Black History Month, I make an effort to promote and support Black-owned businesses and I listen, unlearn, and relearn from my elders.”
Thank you for sharing your story, Pamela, and thank you for all that you do for our patients and community!