“I Get to Make a Difference”: Landon Jackson, Clinical MI Specialist III, on Passion and Fulfillment

Though they share similarities, every surgical case is different: every person, their health history, their background, their needs, and the context of the surgery. These cases provide opportunities for growth, gratitude, and satisfaction each day. We recently interviewed Landon Jackson, a Clinical MI Specialist III who’s been with SpecialtyCare for 10 years, to find out what he loves about his career with us. “It has gone by so fast but it’s been so fulfilling!” he says.

Early in his career, Landon said he was discouraged by his job prospects. “But I remained optimistic about finding a career in something that I would love, and SpecialtyCare has been that and more for me,” he says. “I originally started out as a certified sterile processing technician. I wanted a change but didn’t want to leave the medical field. I became interested in [minimally invasive surgical support] and wanted to see firsthand how instrumentation was used up close and personal with the possibility to grow within the company.” 

Growing in Collaboration and Passion for the Work

Landon’s day-to-day involves checking with his OR teams and ensuring that everything they need is in place. “It starts out very early, getting to the hospital an hour before my cases start. I check in with the front desk for any additional add-on cases or changes from the final schedule that was printed from the day before. I then check in with each OR team and provide them with any instrumentation or guidance that they may need, in addition to making sure the monitor placement and tower is working and in place according to what the procedure may be,” says Landon. “Once my cases are done, items I’m responsible for are transported to decontamination, where I follow with a 15-step cleaning process. After instrumentation is washed, I inspect and assemble on the clean side to make sure the instrumentation functions and meets all standards. Items are then processed for upcoming cases, and the process is repeated daily.”

Teamwork is essential in the OR setting, and Landon enjoys the collaboration he experiences with his teams. “I love that we all share the same goal, and that’s to provide the best care possible for our patients and OR staff — and how we all support one another, whether it be from afar or in close proximity. … I think one of the most rewarding parts about my job is that I get to make a difference and contribute to a patient’s health for the better. There’s no better feeling than having a surgeon and the rest of the staff express gratitude to you after each case.”

His interest in the MISS field has only grown since he started working at SpecialtyCare. “I love researching and reading about things, but once I got this job, I was quite surprised at how far laparoscopic surgery has come and how there are so many pieces and puzzles that have to fit to make a laparoscopic case work and be successful,” says Landon. “No matter how many times I’ve seen a particular case, all of it is still so fascinating to me.”

Not only that, but Landon enjoys where he gets to work. “People are quite hesitant to come to Memphis, but it really is a beautiful city,” he says. “There are so many opportunities here. The culture, the grind, it’s what makes Memphis, Memphis. There’s no place like it.”

Become the Best Version of Yourself at SpecialtyCare

At SpecialtyCare, we love helping our team members thrive, and we’re dedicated to their success. Landon says, “If you have any interest in the medical field or surgery specifically and want to grow within a company that cares, pushes you to be the best version of yourself, and wants to see you succeed, don’t hesitate to join.” If you’re interested in what you can enjoy and who you’ll become by working at SpecialtyCare, contact us today!