Becoming an IT Team Member at Children’s of Alabama

Simon Gichuru has been a team member at Children’s of Alabama since October 2016. Simon’s role is Manager of Instructional Systems & Technology in the Information Technology Department. Through the use of technology at Children’s, Simon has been able to give back to a patient population that is very close to his heart. By utilizing his skills, he is helping make a difference.

Simon’s Personal Connection to the Mission of Children’s

“I grew up and lived in East Africa, and when I was a child I lost my younger brother to leukemia when he was nine. That was over three decades ago. I remember asking my parents all kinds of questions about the disease, but they didn’t have answers. The information given to them at the time was not enough. I kept hoping for clarity as I grew older—but it never came. At times there were no records on my brother’s condition, treatment or options to help me better understand what was happening. Information and education were just not available. It would have really helped if we had something to help us process everything.

Because of those experiences early in my childhood, I promised myself that one day, if given a chance, I would do something to try and make a difference. I never knew how exactly, but everything I’ve done in IT over the past 15 years has involved communication, education and empowering people. I’m just thrilled to have the opportunity to do that here at Children’s of Alabama. It’s a dream come true.”

The New Hire Experience

“When I first started at Children’s, I was a little intimidated due to the sheer size of the place—especially the IT department, which employs 100+ brilliant people! We were in the middle of a major EMR project, so there were a lot of moving parts and a lot to quickly learn. Everyone was so supportive and encouraging, and it made all the difference. My director was, and has always been, accessible. With his help, I was able to catch on to things fairly quickly. Children’s also provided me with many different training resources for those critical applications that I needed in order to do the job right away. As a new manager, I was also given guidance by a Children’s HR consultant on all matters HR. She was, and still is, always available to answer questions and provide guidance whenever needed.”

What Motivates Simon to Continue Growing

“I ran into our new CIO in the hallway one time around 9 a.m. and he was wearing scrubs. I believe he had been up most of the previous night helping roll out a new system. He was as jovial and upbeat as he could be despite the long night. It was almost like he had just gotten here! I also spent a good bit of one Friday afternoon last month with my director, helping him clean and organize our common IT kitchen area. That kind of selfless, servant leadership inspires me. People at Children’s genuinely care and support each other. One can’t help but want to do more and become better at what they do working here.”

Advice to New Hires in Tech/IT

“My advice to new hires would be for them to bring their A+ skillset—whether it is hardware, software, networking, databases, etc.—because they’ll need it. Be ready to inspire and be inspired by serving and supporting those who work around the clock to heal and save our Children’s lives.”

One Team, One Mission

“Children’s mission is to provide the finest care possible to children. In doing so, research, education, training and innovation has to take center stage. I’m responsible for ensuring that the instructional systems, technology and learning products being used and developed within the organization are effective. We are putting together an A+ team of talented instructional systems designers, and look forward to creating innovative learning experiences through collaboration and partnership with our educators and other subject matter experts.”

Simon’s Greatest Opportunity

“Everything seems to have come full circle for me. Thirty plus years ago, my family could have used more information and a more qualified advocate for my brother. I’m here now and Children’s has given me an opportunity to contribute to that effort and to give hope to families and their children. There’s no greater purpose, and I’m thankful for the opportunity!”

If you want to learn more about the IT team, how they work every day through the use of technology and contribute to the bigger mission of Children’s, apply here!