As Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz once said with an undeniable sense of longing, ‘there’s no place like home.’ For many of us, we’ve experienced that feeling of wanting to chase our dreams elsewhere only to eventually feel the pull to come back home. There’s just something about going back to your roots to replant yourself.
That was the case for Colby Stack, AG-ACNP, a lifelong resident of Sullivan, Mo., who recently returned to the area after completing his studies and training. He’s one of the newest certified nurse practitioners working as a hospitalist at Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital. For Colby, the decision to return to Sullivan to work at Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital was an easy one.
“What really drew me to Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital was how warm and welcoming everyone was and the sense of community that was displayed during my initial tour,” said Colby. “During my interview I had the opportunity to speak with some of the other providers who reassured me that it not only looked like a great place to work, but that it was a great place to work.”
Colby also has strong family ties to Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital. In fact, many of his family members were born at the hospital, and today, eight of his family members work there:
- Emmy Stack, Supervisor, Food & Nutrition Services – Colby’s mother
- Jerrod Schlueter, Facilities Manager – Colby’s uncle
- Colleen Schluter, Radiology Tech – Colby’s aunt (married to Jerrod)
- Jennifer Brooks, RN, Emergency Department – Colby’s aunt
- Alana Hanneken, Specialty Clinic Coordinator – Colby’s aunt
- Gayle Peebles, Information Systems Project Manager – Colby’s aunt
“Although I do have a lot of family members who work at Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital, that honestly that didn't play a large role in my decision to work here…it just happened to be a large perk,” said Colby. “The opportunity to be close to home and family certainly was a factor that made Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital appealing; however, I can't stress enough how impressed I was after touring the campus and speaking with several other staff members.”
Colby has enjoyed his first few months working as a hospitalist at Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital. He appreciates being able to take care of patients, knowing he’s making a positive impact in their lives.
“Working in the hospital is a very humbling and grounding experience, especially with direct patient care. As a new provider, the best thing for me is coming to work knowing that I have a chance to make a difference not only in a patient's care but also in their life,” said Colby. “Sometimes we see patients in their worst or scariest moments, and if I can help navigate someone through that or overcome an acute illness, that’s an amazing thing. It's a challenging job, but I'm the type of person who loves to be challenged.”
A few of Colby’s family members shared their sentiments about what they enjoy most about working at Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital. Collectively, they each noted the family culture and atmosphere they experience at the hospital, which goes well beyond their actual family:
- Emmy Stack, Supervisor, Food & Nutrition Services – Colby’s mother
“I’ve worked at Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital for 11 years, and my favorite thing about working at the hospital is the atmosphere and the feeling of acceptance everywhere you go. I have always loved being a service to other people. Even though I have several family members who work here, I feel like the hospital is one big family. Everyone is helpful and caring,” said Emmy.
- Gayle Peebles, Information Systems Project Manager – Colby’s aunt
“I’ve worked at Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital for 36 years, and my favorite thing about working at BJC/Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital is being able to work with so many caring and compassionate people. Not only do I get to work with actual family members, but I also work with people who treat each other and our patients like family,” said Gayle.
- Jennifer Brooks, RN, Emergency Department – Colby’s aunt:
“I’ve worked at Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital in the Emergency Department since 2019, and my favorite thing about the hospital is the culture of family. Of course, for many of my own family, we are literally working with our family members. But my colleagues are also like family. This is seen by our patients, too, who feel it and see it all the time. We are all originally from this community. Therefore, we see familiar faces, and I know it brings our patients comfort to also see a familiar face,” said Jennifer.
Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital is proud of the familial culture it has created for its staff, patients, and visitors alike. Being able to be a source of comfort and familiarity is a point of pride. If you’re interested in learning more about career opportunities at Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital, please visit jobs.bjc.org.