Phyllis Efaw

Phyllis’ first foray into the medical-related field was at a family practice, where she began working in 1978. Her next was at an occupational health clinic in Bakersfield, California, which became the second purchaser of StolaSystem. This gave Phyllis the opportunity to become one of the earliest users of that software. She left the clinic in 1992 to work for Stolas, where she could further her expertise. After three years there she returned to Bakersfield and helped start a clinic using StolaSystem.

But perhaps software is her true calling. She went back to work at Stolas in late 1998 and then joined OHR when we purchased that company in 2002. Her first-hand experience in many different aspects of clinic operation (including accounts receivable, transcription, and office management) allows her to appreciate the user’s perspective when training and solving problems.

Carol Eley

Carol’s background includes a 27 year history in health-related positions, including Emergency Department Unit Clerk, St. Vincent Health in Indianapolis, IN; Secretary to VP of Financial Affairs, St. Vincent Health in Carmel, IN; Coordinator for Occupational Medicine, St. Vincent Health where she was an early user of SYSTOC; and Operations Manager, Hospice of South Central Indiana. We had an opportunity to get to know Carol even before she joined OHR—while working at St. Vincent Hospital she attended many of the early User Group Conferences held at Sugarloaf, Maine, and was a valued participant at those events.

Her early responsibilities with OHR included working as an Application Specialist. She was later promoted to Director of Marketing and Sales. Carol’s current responsibilities include introducing SYSTOC to prospective clients, organizing marketing events and attending trade shows. Throughout the 14 years that Carol has been with us she has earned a reputation for being highly professional, outgoing, and lots of fun.

Mary Geer

It’s not just her medical-related experience that gives Mary her “street cred” as a SYSTOC Application Specialist. Sure, she’s spent two years as an Expanded Duties Dental Assistant and six years as an Orthodontic Assistant. And yes, she worked in an Urgent Care/Occ Med practice for 16 years. But she really solidified her reputation while working as a SYSTOC Super User, during which time she implemented EMR…at a Beta test site.

Happily, Mary survived that experience with her sanity intact and became a valued member of OHR in 2005. In addition to working, she enjoys spending as much time as she can with her husband and three children. She also loves to cook, sew, crochet, garden, and vacation at the beach.

Russell Geissbuhler

Although Russell is new to our team he’s an old hand at SYSTOC. He’s been working with that software since version 7.12, has experience with the EMR environment using both standard and custom PDF forms, and is also proficient with iSYSTOC.

He joins OHR after six years with Solantic of Orlando where he started out as a registrar and later worked as a manger, a trainer, and in sales and marketing. He also worked in IT, making good use of his associate degree in Business Computer Programming and Analysis. His prior experience includes working as a national sales manager in a family-owned home theater manufacturing business, where he particularly enjoyed the people contact that attending trade shows and providing sales support entails.

Why did he become an Application Specialist? In his own words, “I really think it is the perfect job for me. My knowledge of computers plus my people skills will be a winning combination. When I showed clients SYSTOC at Solantic they would ask if I worked for OHR because I was so passionate and determined that they would think it was the next best thing to sliced bread. Now I get to help clinics and hospitals feel the same way.”

James Hanna

There’s something very reassuring about the way James interacts with SYSTOC users; he seems to have the confident yet slightly laid-back style that comes naturally to a southern gentleman. Or maybe he just knows SYSTOC very, very well. He should, considering that he’s spent the last nine years as an Application Specialist for OHR. During that time he has (among other things) skillfully conducted numerous training sessions and created a comprehensive series of online training videos.

Before that, James spent ten years in medical-related fields. He worked as a program manager for the Carolina Center for Industrial Health Baker Hospital (which is now WorkSite Partners with Roper-St. Francis Health Care) and was Operations Director at WorkMed Carolina, a division of the Medical University of South Carolina.

According to James, “The most exciting part about teaching is finding good solutions in SYSTOC for challenging problems.”

Meg Kepner

Like many other long-time OHR employees, Meg started as a Technical Support Rep. (It’s a good way to get to know SYSTOC from the ground up, and not just because the Technical Support department happens to be on the first floor!). One year later she became an Application Specialist, a role she continues to enjoy after 13 years.

Her prior work experience includes a stint at the Center for Occupational and Environmental Health at Exeter Hospital in Exeter, NH. She describes what she did there as “Jack of all trades – and anything related to SYSTOC.” More specifically, she has worked as an administrative assistant, interim office manager, and billing manager, for a total of five years of medical-related experience before joining OHR.

Michelle McGuire

Armed with a BS degree in computer processing, Michelle began her 12-year career at OHR working in the Technical Support Department. After a one-year immersion in all things SYSTOC she became one of OHR’s dedicated road warriors, also known as Application Specialists. Michelle enjoys the challenge of solving clients’ problems and the satisfaction of helping a client become a successful SYSTOC user, which she has done many times.

However, traveling to and from client sites is not her favorite part of the job. Over the years she’s had more than a few near misses on the road. For example, during a February site visit to a client in Kentucky, the area was hit by a severe wind storm. After returning home she learned that the roof at the back of the hotel where she stayed had blown off—while she was staying there! The very next week she drove across Iowa for a site visit and saw 100 cars and semis off the road along one 50-mile stretch.

According to Michelle, “The most exciting part about teaching is getting to meet all kinds of people. I have traveled all over the United States training for OHR during the last 11 years and I meet great people everywhere I go. If I leave a clinic feeling like I was able to help them make better use of the software tool they have it makes all the travel worthwhile.”

Paula Manley

Paula was a mere child of 17 when she began working in medical-related positions. Her career path meandered through many different types of practices, including Family Practice, Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology and OB-GYN. Her jobs varied too; she has worked as a receptionist, a medical assistant, and a billing supervisor for a multi-clinic, hospital-based occupational medicine practice.

She became a SYSTOC user during the six and a half years she worked in occupational medicine, giving her ample time to experience OHR’s commitment to customer service first-hand. Apparently she was impressed; she decided to join our organization, reasoning that if OHR takes such good care of their clients, they must also take good care of their employees. Paula’s personal commitment to service is well known among clients and co-workers alike, and we are proud to have her on our team. She has been with OHR for eleven years.

According to Paula, “I enjoy meeting new users of our software applications because I know from experience how much they will gain once they get up and running. I enjoy teaching; sharing knowledge and experiences, and helping others achieve their potential through the use of the software. It is always a joy to see long-time users during site visits and help them set goals for more advanced use of the application as they grow their practices.“

William L. Newkirk, MD, FACPM

Chairperson of OHR’s Board of Directors and the Director of Research, who is responsible for overall corporate design and direction as well as research and development of new systems.

Dr. Newkirk earned a B. A. from Harvard, an M.D. from The Ohio State University Medical School, and is Board Certified in Occupational Medicine. He is the original developer of SYSTOC and founder of OHR, where he served as president from 1985 to 1995. He is also the Director of Occupational Medicine at Redington-Fairview General Hospital in Skowhegan, Maine.

His notable accomplishments include being the first physician recipient of the NAOHP Career Achievement Award, given annually to the person in the United States whose career has contributed most to the field of occupational health. He is also the author of two textbooks on occupational medicine.

John Webster

John’s medical-related background is similar to many other Application Specialists at OHR, but it was his affinity for computers that led him to his current line of work. (In addition to kayaking and whitewater rafting, John lists “computers” as one of his hobbies.) He explains, “I didn’t choose the path, I just went where the fun (computer) jobs were springing up.” So far, he has had fun with OHR for six years.

Before that, John spent twelve years working in a hospital-based occupational health clinic. Part of that time he worked in the Physical and Occupational Therapy departments, where almost every section of SYSTOC was used extensively. While there, John’s responsibilities included writing Crystal Reports. He worked as a contract trainer for OHR for a year before joining the company on a permanent basis.

According to John, “Nothing is more exciting than when someone asks for something you have never heard of, and you help create a totally new system that meets their need.”