Focus On Staff With Robert "Manny" Simmons

Robert Simmons (or Manny to his friends and family "unless he is in trouble”) is a clinical service coordinator for the UC Cancer Institute’s Lung Cancer Screening Program and Win By Quitting Smoking Cessation Program. A Cincinnati native—although not a Bengals fan, he admits—Simmons graduated from Withrow High School in 2008 and is currently attending the University of Cincinnati to get his degree in accounting. He began working at UC Health less than a year ago as a housekeeper and setup person for events.

What is a typical day like for you? What are some of your duties?

"Well, a typical day in the workplace is calling patients to be scheduled for either smoking cessation or lung cancer screening, tracking patients and producing statistics, like percentages of our patients, for the month, quarter and year for both programs.”

What do you enjoy about your job?

"I would say I enjoy seeing when our smoking patients are dedicated on quitting because it’s such a huge step and long, hard journey.”

Tell us something people wouldn’t expect about you. 

"I was a temporary HR assistant for a year and a full time admissions coordinator before the age of 24. My father, his wife and I started a cleaning business back in March, and we are building it fairly quickly. I am very optimistic, love learning and expanding my knowledge.”

Away from work, what keeps you busy?

"Besides school, working three jobs and coaching football, I spend a lot of time with my 3-year-old niece and 8-year-old nephew as well as my great-grandmother. I play basketball and go to the gym when I really have free time. I love to have fun in whatever it is I’m doing.”