Texas Health Rockwall pharmacist helped shape hospital
Few pharmacists can claim they became a director of pharmacy in part because of “Fiddler on the Roof,” but that’s exactly what happened to Robert Scheele, Pharm.D., at Texas Health Hospital Rockwall.
Scheele, who has led the pharmacy at the hospital since it opened in 2007, has deep roots in Rockwall, where he and his wife have lived for 37 years and raised three children. His love of both the community and his work shines through as Scheele tells the story of how he came to be at the hospital and how fulfilling it is to be in his leadership role.
“Rob’s commitment to Texas Health Rockwall has helped shaped not only our hospital but the community that we live in,” said Jason Linscott, hospital president. “His impact extends beyond his role; he has been a steadfast supporter of our caregivers, a source of comfort for our patients, and an advocate for our community’s health and well-being.”
Below, read Scheele’s story, in his own words:
What did you want to be as a child, and how did you ultimately choose your career?
I had childhood aspirations of being a pilot (my grandfather was) or an actor because I enjoyed acting in high school and, later, community theater. I knew I didn’t want the isolated lifestyle I had growing up on a farm southeast of Amarillo and northeast of Lubbock, where we had to drive 2 ½ miles over unpaved road to get home. The idea of healthcare came up because my mom went back to school for nursing after raising six kids (I’m the youngest). A gifted clinician, she loved her career. She nudged me toward pharmacy, and my dad agreed, saying, “Anything’s better than farmin’.” I graduated from pharmacy school and found practicing in the hospital environment rewarding.
What is your workday like?
My typical workday starts before I arrive. Upon waking, I check email and the 24-hour report. Shortly after I arrive at the hospital, it’s the safety briefing and any other meetings. My unofficial primary role is “listener/coordinator of problem-solving and final decision-maker.” Things break, need to be fixed, and we work with many disciplines/processes, so there are many great ideas on how to do things best. Someone owns the process and gets to be accountable for it, and that’s me!
What is your favorite part of your job, and the biggest challenge?
My favorite part is the privilege of living life with my team and co-workers, coming alongside them in both joyous times and in valleys, contributing to a welcoming work environment. I’ve been blessed with a wonderful team from the very beginning here and I am grateful for them daily. I also love working in Rockwall. I often visit and pray with a friend or neighbor when they’re prepping for surgery or arriving in the emergency room. I’m thankful to represent our hospital in this way, hoping it provides peace of mind to folks I care about. I’m confident in the excellent care we provide, and I can pass that along to our patients/my friends. The biggest challenge, without doubt, is the amount of responsibility that comes with this role. Every patient here is impacted by medication. I don’t take that responsibility lightly.
What’s something people would be surprised to know about you?
I love to share the story of how I providentially ended up at Texas Health Rockwall. In 2003, my full-time job was with a competitor hospital, but I’d shared my desire to help open a new facility in a director role with my then-CEO, Ken Teel. That company was opening a new facility in far north Dallas, and we both expected I would get that job, but I didn’t. Fast-forward to 2006, when I was playing the role of the innkeeper, Mordcha, in Rockwall Community Playhouse’s “Fiddler on the Roof” alongside Lazar Wolf the butcher, played by Gary Bonacquisti, M.D., now Texas Health Hospital Rockwall’s chief quality and medical officer. We spent hours in the dressing room talking about the new Texas Health hospital opening in late 2007. A friendship began, and Teel, (Texas Health Rockwall’s first president), Dr. B and I were all on the team that opened this facility. It’s a great example of how God’s story is much better than one I’d have ever written for myself!
How do you do your life’s best work at Texas Health?
It’s no wonder Texas Health receives awards for “Best Place to Work.” The organization recognizes the importance of work/life balance. I serve in leadership at my church, Redeemer Rockwall, and I’ve been on the board of directors for several years at Rockwall County Helping Hands. This environment allows and encourages that type of community involvement. Texas Health equips me to be the leader I should be, allows me to pursue the things I enjoy alongside my professional role, demands excellence in the care of our patients (providing the tools to deliver that), and demonstrates genuine care and concern for the well-being of their employees. I’m thankful to be a part of it all.
