Focus on Staff With Maria Kalp

If you’ve been required to schedule a neuroradiology procedure or test, chances are you have experienced the consummate professional and pleasant demeanor of Maria Kalp. With an 18-year background as a medical transcriptionist/secretary in Pennsylvania, she assumed the role of clinical assistant for the section of neuroradiology within the UC College of Medicine Department of Radiology in 2006. Here she tells us about why she enjoys coming to work every day. 

What is your current role within the department of radiology? 

"I am a clinical assistant to the section of neuroradiology within the UC College of Medicine Department of Radiology.  I’ve held this position for more than five years—my six-year work anniversary is October 22, 2012.”  

Tell us what an average work day is like for you.

"It starts at 8:30 a.m. and goes non-stop until around 5 p.m. Most days are very busy, teeming with calls to schedule procedures and questions for our neuroradiologists, neurofellows and staff. I also stay busy sorting out various inpatient care concerns, not to mention keeping up with email correspondence.”

What makes you get out bed in the morning and want to come to work? 

"I keep an upbeat prospective, reminding myself that that God gave me the breath to wake up each day to be the best I can be to help others. No matter if it’s someone calling my office by mistake or scheduling a patient needing a stat intrathecal chemo test, I feel my purpose is to provide elite support to help their day run as smoothly as possible.  

"I must say, the physicians I assist—Drs. Tomsick, Gaskill, Vagal, Cornelius, Lee, Lukin, Morales, Weiss and the neuroradiology fellows, as well as the  Mayfield Clinic neurosurgery physicians Drs. Ringer, Abruzzo and their fellows—make working here a blessing. I call these physicians ‘my doctors’ and they are the finest I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with. I love working here because of how kind, compassionate, educated and talented ‘my doctors’ are. If I ever need care in radiology, these are the physicians I would want to have treat me or my family.”

Tell us something that people don’t know about you. 

"I moved here from Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania after my mother passed away. I’m a native of Saipan Marianna Islands which is part of the U.S. Trust Territory, and someday I would like go back and build a winter home on the property my mother left me.” 

What do you enjoy doing when you are not at work? 

"I love cooking. If you came over to my house, I would have my fridge stocked for all types of cuisines, from pho and egg rolls to BBQ Korean pork steaks, beef short ribs and pizza. I also enjoy going to Findlay Market on the weekends, gardening and playing with my two beautiful adopted black Labradors Carley, 6 months, and Charlie, 6 years. They are my babies.”