In 1985, when Arlie Jenkins began working as a Transporter at the former St. Paul University Hospital, she quickly discovered she loved helping patients.

“When you are in Transport, you are taking patients to the operating room, blood bank, or lab, and I would always talk to everyone,” Ms. Jenkins says. “I liked working with the patients and greeting their families.”

Although she left Transport for Sterile Processing 34 years ago, her commitment to helping patients continued. Even though Ms. Jenkins doesn’t have direct contact with patients anymore, she still strives to make a difference for them. “I always think about the patient who is on the operating table and how fast I can help them get out of surgery,” she explains.

A UT Southwestern employee for more than three decades, Ms. Jenkins says she enjoys the challenges of her job that involve sterilizing instruments for surgery. “Every day is a different day with a different surprise,” she says.

When she first started working in Sterile Processing, the number of surgical patients caught her by surprise. “I did not realize,” she says, “that so many people had surgery every day.”

Over the years, she has learned so much by listening to and watching others. She has tried to stand out as someone who is loyal, responsible, and dependable. And although she’s known to usually have a smile on her face, Ms. Jenkins says people would be surprised to know she is very shy.

Thirty-six years have gone by fast, Ms. Jenkins says, but she has cherished the journey and the fond memories made with the people she has worked with.

“I’ve seen so many changes in the field of improving health,” she says. “I have enjoyed my time here.”

Away from work, Ms. Jenkins likes reading, baking, traveling, and spending time with her three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

“I’ve had a wonderful time working and meeting new people,” she says. “Now, I’m looking forward to retirement.”