Debra M. Schultz is the twin sister of last month’s In Focus feature and worthy of her own article as the Senior Training Developer/Subject Matter Expert for the U.S. Army Radiology Specialist Program MOS 68P. She holds a bachelor’s in general studies from Texas Woman’s University (TWU) as well as Master of Science in Health Science: Healthcare Management. She is currently a Sergeant First Class in the United States Army.
Schultz and her sister, Laurie Fross, were nominated by VA Puget Sound Health Care System Health Systems Specialist-Strategic Planner John Beall.
“I just think it would be a cool, feel-good story of a family duo serving the country while also being part of our imaging community and two of the nicest people I have ever met,” Beall said.
“I have two sisters and a brother. I am incredibly close with my twin sister, Laurie, and we talk every day. She is my confidant and best friend. I am a single mom to an amazing young man, Jordan, who is almost 9. Unfortunately, both of my parents have passed away,” Schultz explained.
Schultz began her Army career after earning a bachelor’s degree.
“I joined the Army in June 2005 as an X-ray tech; I was working as a student athletic trainer at TWU. I wanted to join the Army since I graduated high school, however my dad pushed me to get a college degree,” she explained. “I still wanted to join the Army – especially after 9/11 – so after college graduation I decided to join the Army. I wanted to stay in the medical/health care field as I did with athletic training. I enjoyed taking care of the athletes and radiology seemed like a field I would be interested in.”
“I loved learning about the human body in my undergrad with all of the kinesiology studies, so X-ray seemed like a good job,” Schultz added.
When asked about her greatest accomplishment, Schultz answered in a way that highlights the importance of family.
“My greatest accomplishment is two-fold. Being a parent has been one of the greatest accomplishments I have had. Not just being a parent, but proving that I can be a leader in the Army and doing so successfully as a single parent. I have an amazing village to help me care for my son, to include my sister Laurie, who has travelled down to San Antonio to help care for him while I continue to serve in the Army,” Schultz said.
“Additionally, serving in the military and affecting hundreds of people has been an amazing accomplishment. I currently sit in an instructor role as the senior training developer, but throughout my career, I have been able to affect so many soldiers and officers through developing relationships, being a mentor, friend and just listening. I learned that to be a great leader, I have to also be a great follower and a great peer. Watching the soldiers I have worked with ‘grow up’ throughout the Army and see their accomplishments is what motivates me to keep putting on the uniform every day,” she added.
Another reason she puts on the uniform every day is because she loves her job. “I love my job because I have the ability to affect people on a level that is not just at the surface. Those that I have come across throughout my career, take what I have taught them or mentored them on and pass it on to their soldiers and the cyclical effects of that has only improved the radiology program in the Army. I have had the privilege to be mentored by some amazing people and sharing that information, guiding soldiers, and seeing the improvements that have been made make it worthwhile,” Schultz said. When asked to share more about her leadership style, Schultz explained that she tries to get to know everyone on her team and listen to their feedback.
“When I am approaching leadership, the first step I take is to get to know everyone I will be working with. While there are titles and positions of leadership, we all work together to achieve whatever end state we have established,” she said. “I feel it is incredibly important for me, as a leader, to earn the respect and confidence of my team, be transparent with them, know my own weaknesses and strengths and act more as a peer than a leader. I’ll be the first one in the room to admit I don’t know something, and I always ask a ton of questions.”
The art of asking questions has paid dividends thanks to some great mentors who have assisted Schultz with her imaging career.
“SFC Eddie Perales is one of my mentors. He is a senior radiology technologist, but above all an amazing human being. SFC Perales showed me the tools to reach my potential. He ‘showed me doors’ that I chose to walk through which skyrocketed my career. I trust his opinion and he never backs down from telling me the truth. He never let me back down from a challenge yet guided me towards the finish line,” she said.
“Major Jordan Gammons is another mentor of mine. I first met her as my company commander in 2013 at Fort Stewart, Georgia and she has been an amazing leader to confide in. Major Gammons assisted me as a mentor and leader through the passing of my father and the challenge of military demands as a new mother,” Schultz added. “Major Gammons has always supported my dreams and gives me amazing advice.”
“The hardest lesson that I learned in the military and as an adult is to put myself in uncomfortable situations. However, being uncomfortable has provided me the most amazing growth and success throughout my career,” she added.
When asked what she would want to share or pass on to the next leader, Schultz reminds everyone that we are all alike.
“I think it’s important to remember to be humble, self-aware, transparent, and always admit when we’ve made mistakes,” she said. “We’re human, but we can’t forget that there are thousands of other humans around us most likely going through the exact same challenges we are.”
