DeWitt employee honors, interviews two bosses

Numerous studies have shown that our jobs have a great impact on our health and our lives, overall. Most will agree that our bosses can make coming to work a pleasant experience or a measurable one.
I have to admit I have been very lucky for the last few years with not only having a job I absolutely love, but being surrounded by wonderful and caring coworkers, including my two bosses.

Maj. Jeffrey Sigmon, the lab manager; and Dr. (Lt. Col.) Michael Licata, the pathologist; are two very different people, with personalities like the North and South poles. Nevertheless, they were able to not only work together so efficiently to get the mission accomplished, but they contributed to each co-worker from their own "angle," in their own ways, making working at DeWitt an experience of a lifetime.

Dr. Licata, an easy-going, very approachable guy who absolutely loves food and always has a smile on his face, will never go by an individual without greeting him or her with a big smile and asking about their day. Dr. Licata is one of the most patient and understanding people I've ever known, especially for holding such a demanding position. Everybody in the lab knows that if there is an issue, all they need to do is walk through the never-closed-doors of our pathologist. During renovations, we were all welcomed into the "Café Licata," which also had a welcoming café sign. I don't know of too many pathologists who will allow staff members (and there are 50 of us) sitting in his office at the table next to his desk enjoying their lunch while trying to get the never-ending work done.

In two years, I've never heard Dr. Licata complain; I have seen him lock himself out of the office, forget his uniform ... now, he would never forget about breakfast, lunch and a snack every half an hour, but never complain, never be condescending, never putting his work onto the next day or on to someone else.

Maj. Sigmon, very uptight, extremely thorough and serious, is always there for you, knowing all the policies and regulations, almost verbatim. Now, he does have a few things in common with Dr. Licata - he is also approachable, understanding and cares about people working for him a great deal.

Maj. Sigmon is what I would call a "natural leader" - he can quickly and accurately identify the approach each individual needs and the best way to communicate with each employee. He understands people so well that some of us come to him to help us understand ourselves.

He would go out of his way for his people. He will reorganize things, rewrite policies and go as high as he can in the chain of command to make a difference for those who work for him (the lucky ones, I must say). Maj. Sigmon is the hard-working type who will forget to eat lunch at times and stay past his work hours to get the mission accomplished. He is the one shunning public adulation while all the work he does and all his accomplishments are monumental and should not go unnoticed. He is the type of a boss who has also high expectations for his employees and will hold everyone accountable.

Frankly, many of us need that - when not enough is done, it's good to have that person pushing you to getting things done and getting it done the right way; when the job is done well, positive reinforcement is a must.

Maj. Sigmon definitely is not parsimonious on acknowledging and recognizing a job well done. In fact, positive reinforcement is one of his main focuses.

The very sad part is that Dr. Licata and Maj. Sigmon will be leaving us soon for new military assignments. It feels like losing two family members. We all want for them to know how much we appreciate what they have done for us and that they will always remain part of "Dewitt Family." I don't even want to say 'team members.'

They have taken their work on the level above and beyond all our expectations. They showed how much they care for us and I believe that only a family member can be that dedicated.
I recently spoke with Dr. Licata and Maj. Sigmon and asked them some questions:

What has been your overall impression of the mission and people here at the lab?
Licata: Our mission is very critical; we provide quality and timely laboratory support to the DeWitt Healthcare Network. The folks in the lab are friendly, courteous, hard-working and are very detail-oriented.
Sigmon: Overall impression of the people - very good. People have really embraced the customer-service initiative, started by Col. (Kenneth) Canestrini a few years ago.
The mission is always evolutionary and will keep changing when you move into the new hospital and beyond.

Has there been any single, outstanding attribute about our lab or its people that has impressed you?
Licata: For a six-month period, our lab was challenged with providing continuous, 24/7 support while undergoing a complete renovation. The fact that we were able to continue to provide quality service under these very trying conditions really says a lot about these folks.
Sigmon: To be honest, this is one of the first facilities I have not had to meet with a union, so I would say most people are willing to embrace change to meet the needs of the mission.

Would you have changed any of the methods or procedures that you implemented before here at DeWitt?
Licata: No.
Sigmon: No , I believe all changes have proved effective, other than NSPS, which I have no control over and is subsequently being shelved this year.

Is there an area or areas in which the lab can improve upon to give more excellent service?
Licata: We're always looking for ways to improve upon the quality of service we provide to our customers. However, there really isn't any one section of the lab in particular that needs improvement.
Sigmon: Well, you can always look to improve. However, this lab has made significant improvements in several different areas (i.e. customer service, facilities and overall appearance (renovation), supply system, stat bench), to name a few.

How have you and your family enjoyed living in the Washington, D.C., area?
Licata: We lived in Silver Spring, Md., for eight years and then two years in Alexandria, Va. This is the longest I ever spent in one area since I joined the military in 1988. We loved it here, but are ready to move on.
Sigmon: My wife really loves the area and wants to come back, so you may see me again at the new facility. My kids love the area because there are several opportunities to join dance and gymnastics teams. From a health perspective, my son has not had many ear infections since we moved here. I have enjoyed some of the friends and family I have had the opportunity to meet and see on a more regular basis (family that is). Also, it was nice to attend all the professional sports venues and other entertainment (concerts) that are available in the nation's capital. And, it was really neat to be here to experience the nation's capital and all the museums, zoo, Cherry Blossom Festival, etc.

How does our DeWitt Lab and its staff stack up against other labs you have been in?
Licata: I've already commented on their strong work ethic and attention to detail. They are also the friendliest and most fun to be around.
Sigmon: Wow, tough question. But, honestly, you are a great bunch to work with and for. I have had the pleasure of working with some other great groups, but would rank the DeWitt laboratory right at the top with the hospital in Korea.

Do you like to snack?
Licata: Yes, perhaps a little too much.
Sigmon: Gave no answer. We all can guess the answer to his question!