As a new mother, Evans-Palmer didn’t feel comfortable going straight to school. She took a medical records course as well as a medical terminology course and got a job in a medical records department.
She tried going back to college two more times while her kids were in school, but she still struggled to find a balance between working full time, helping her kids with their homework and taking classes on the side.
“I was paying for school out of my pockets then,” Evans-Palmer said. “I just couldn’t commit when I wasn’t sure I’d have the time to dedicate to my studies.”
She again put her degree on hold.
A leap of faith
Evans-Palmer joined Roper St. Francis Healthcare as a medical receptionist in 2017. Since then, she has advanced to various positions within the system, including physician office specialist, site coordinator and practice manager.
“I love the opportunities that Roper St. Francis Healthcare offers,” Evans-Palmer said. “My managers saw something in me, and I’ve been able to continually advance my career.”
In addition to advancing her career through the system, Evans-Palmer was presented with an opportunity to pursue her lifelong goal of attaining a college degree with Roper St. Francis Healthcare’s educational benefits.
In 2022, she saw a position open within the system that piqued her interest but didn’t apply because she didn’t meet educational requirements. Not long after, she began seeing emails promoting the partnership with Kaplan, which offers teammates a chance to pursue a degree while Roper St. Francis Healthcare foots the bill.
“It felt like it was a sign from God to go back to school,” she said. “I dug deeper, found out more about it and decided to take a leap of faith.”
She encountered challenges in her journey back to college. Multiple attempts in the past left her feeling discouraged, but the support from her family and her employer reignited her determination.
“Now I know I have a better support system,” Evans-Palmer said. “My husband, children and friends are always checking in on me. And thanks to Roper St. Francis Healthcare, I haven’t had to pay anything since I started taking classes.”
A drive for community
Evans-Palmer loves her job as a practice manager within the healthcare system and is excited about the potential leadership opportunities she’ll have with a degree on her resume, she said.
“I want to make an even bigger impact,” Evans-Palmer said. “As a member of the Diversity, Inclusion and Health Equity committee, I love working in community outreach. I’d love to take what I’m learning now and apply it there.”
She’s taken classes on social determinants of health since going back to school, which further inspires her to make a difference in the community.
Just recently she helped organize a Thanksgiving turkey giveaway sponsored by a nonprofit that her and her husband manage. Additionally, her and her team were able to assist with Roper St. Francis Greer Transitions Clinic’s Thanksgiving canned food drive and Christmas sock drive by collecting and delivering donations.
“My heart is in community outreach,” she said. “I try to find time to volunteer when I can.”
Staying focused
Since going back to school, Evans-Palmer has notched achievements such as making the Chancellor’s List, Dean’s List and the National Society of Leadership and Success. She has accomplished these honors while working and carving out time to attend her daughter’s track meets and visit her son in college. She begins her fifth term next week.
“This experience has meant so much to me,” she said. “I don’t know if I can even put it into words. I’ve grown so much and taken on more responsibility, but I like the responsibility.”
She encourages anyone interested in taking the leap to go for it.
“Don’t second guess it,” she said. “Talk to people, create a circle of support and find your balance. If you feel you should do it, then do it.”