Monique Chandler joined Texas Health on a dare.
“Back in 1989, I had just gotten out of Marine Corps Reserve training,” Chandler said. “A friend in worked in the Food and Nutrition Department at what was then Presbyterian Hospital Dallas and dared me to apply. I did, and the rest is history.”
History, indeed. Chandler began in food services, but later moved to the Finance Department at the urging of her director. After working as a cashier, she became a financial counselor – again at the suggestion of that same director, Doris Wilson.
“I had been speaking to the manager of the financial counseling department, but she said, ‘You don’t look like you really want to move from where you are right now,’ and I didn’t,” Chandler said. “But then after speaking with Miss Wilson again, I transferred over to financial counseling and I’ve been there ever since.”
Wilson had the right idea, said Karen Berryhill, director of Patient Access Services, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas and Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Kaufman.
“Monique is a role model in how she serves others,” Berryhill said. “She goes above and beyond for her patients and takes the time to explain all the details.”
Learn more about Chandler and her standing date with a celebrity.
What did you want to be as a kid, and how did you ultimately choose your career?
I’ve always loved cooking, and I wanted to do something with cooking and serving people. When Doris Wilson suggested I leave the department and go to Finance, she said I could still do something in the food industry on the side. So I still do catering, but ultimately she was right. I love my job.
How do you spend your days at work?
I spend most of my time working with patients. I look to see what their financial responsibility is. I let them know whether their insurance is in network or out of network, and I see if they’re eligible for any type of assistance through the hospital.
What’s your favorite part of your job, and what is the biggest challenge?
I love that I have the ability to change something within someone’s life every single day. I can help them. I can give them information. Sometimes I can just talk to them and alleviate some of the anxiety they have about their bills.
But anytime you talk to someone about finances or money, it can be daunting. I talked to a patient maybe five years ago and he said, “Healthcare is expensive and then great healthcare is probably more expensive.” And he was surprised when I agreed with him. But why not? It’s realistic. It’s expensive, but we have options. We always have options.
What’s something people would be surprised to know about you?
I am in love with Jason Aldean. I also have a weekly date with Keanu Reeves: I watch “John Wick” three or four times a month. And then I watch Harrison Ford in “Air Force One” as often as I can. I know all the lines.
My co-workers always laugh at me because I tell them, “I have a date this evening,“ and they’ll ask if it’s with Keanu or Harrison.
How do you do your life’s best work at Texas Health?
Even when I first started in Food and Nutrition, Miss Wilson made us feel as though we were important, doing something for patients or employees or a meeting – anything. For me, that trickled down to every job I’ve had. Just knowing I’m able to help people and that I make a difference to someone – I love that.
Published October 11, 2022
