Name
Barbara J. Schmidtman, PhD
Company/Organization
Spectrum Health Lakeland
What Does Your Company/Organization Do?
Health Care
Age
39
Accomplishments
- Michiana Forty Under 40, Class of 2018
- Leo Soorus Leadership Award – Spectrum Health, 2019
- American Cancer Society, Night of Stars, Innovator Award, 2019
What else do you hope to accomplish by the age of 40?
I only have a few months left before I turn 40, so I hope to finish my thirties out with as much energy as I had over the last 9 years, setting the stage for 40 and beyond!!! 🙂
Education
- PhD, Business Administration, focus in Industrial / Organizational Psychology – Northcentral University
- MA, Organizational Leadership – Siena Heights University
- Bachelor of Applied Science – Siena Heights University
- Associate of Applied Science, Nuclear Medicine – Ferris State University
Residence
St. Joseph, MI
Where were you born?
Born in Muskegon, MI but raised in Grant, MI
What was your first job?
Nuclear Medicine Technologist – Spectrum Health Lakeland
Best advice you ever got?
I give credit to my father for the best advice ever (thanks Dad!!!):
- “Never burn a bridge, you don’t know when you’ll need to cross it again…”
- “Don’t hold resentment, resentment grows roots and you will always stay stuck…”
- “Education is the one thing that no one can ever take away from you…”
Who inspires you most?
The great philosophers of all time… Socrates, Confucius, Plato, Aristotle, just to name a few…
That one thing about you we’d be most surprised to learn.
I am a pretty boring human being, but if I had to name something I suppose one surprise to some would be that I love bourbon tasting…
What do you love to do in your downtime?
Camp – Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall!!!
What book are you reading now?
Think Like a Monk, Jay Shetty
Volunteer activity you love the most.
Making Cardea Beads at Waterstreet Glassworks (our cancer patients get to pick one at each chemo treatment!!!)
What motivates you to give back to your community?
I am motivated by seeing the positive impact of hard work and trying to be a supportive mentor for those wanting to grow and develop.
What Superpower would you most love to have?
This is a tough one, they all seem cool. I guess invisibility would be pretty neat!!!
What has been the most eye-opening thing about the coronavirus pandemic for you, personally?
The most eye-opening thing about the pandemic for me has been how quickly things can change and how resilient and courageous we all really can be…
What does the honor of being named to the 40 Under 40 most mean to you?
It is such an honor to be named one of the 40 Under 40 because it means that the work I get the honor of doing daily has been meaningful to others and has been impactful. It’s truly humbling…
