Phyllis Jacobsen

Human Resource (HR) guru of HCIS

TSC also sat with Phyllis Jacobsen, the Human Resource (HR) guru of Health Care Information Systems (HCIS) and got personal. Phyllis has been married to her husband Dennis for 36 years and is a mother of three. Her professional career at HCIS spans 20 years, and with UIHC for over 30 years.

Where are you originally from?

I was born at the University of Iowa of Hospitals and Clinics many years ago when the hospital number matched the year you were born. I grew up on a farm near Morse, IA a small town outside of Iowa City, but spent most of my life in and around West Branch.

How did you end up becoming the HCIS HR guru?

I started my work at Hospital Human Resources many years ago, having worked for John Colloton and others before coming to HCIS.

So after soo many years of working for HCIS what’s keeping you here and what do you like about working at HCIS?

You guys! I love this Hospital and the people I work with. Yes, all of them! And my job is not done here - quite yet. I want to help all my good managers become GREAT managers. I'm proud to say I work at University of Iowa Hospitals in Health Care Information Systems. People are usually impressed. They think I actually know something about computer systems! Ha! I work with some of the most incredible, smart and dedicated people at the University of Iowa. They are passionate about what they do, and all the applications and software that are developed and supported by them. It’s an honor to be working with HCIS Staff.

That’s great, I’m sure the whole of HCIS is blessed to have you here. Ok time to get personal, you ready?

Of course, I’m ready!

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

Singing!!! I LOVE singing. I sing in a chorus and I am the choir leader for my church. I love getting people to sing in the choir.

Really? Have you thought of recording a CD?

NO! no, no, no. I don’t think people want to hear me sing. I do like singing though. I am one of those people who comes up with a song for practically anything and everything.

Why don’t you sing me a song?

Not right now, maybe some other time I will come sing for you.

Anything else you enjoy doing outside of work besides singing?

I also love to read and cook. Lately I’ve been into the “Twilight Series” by Stephanie Meyer. But one of my favorite books that everybody should read is "Man is Wolf to Man" by Dr. Janusz Bardach. I met Dr. Bardach in the mid '70's when he was head of facial reconstructive surgery here at the UIHC. As a young Polish Jew he was sentenced to ten years' hard labor in one of Stalin's labor camps in Siberia. In this book he recounts what he endured and how he survived. This is not a book about Bardach as a hero. It's an incredible story of man's will to survive.

Is he your favorite writer too?

No, my favorite writer is Wilbur Smith. I love his work. One of my passions is learning about the African Continent and its tribalism. There are so many different kinds and groups of ethnic people in Africa, that to some it may seem that they are just a clump of people. However, the reality is, they are different people with different cultures.

That’s so true, thank you for sharing. So what’s your favorite food to cook?

Pies!! I love pies. Any kind of pie…

Any favorites?

Blueberry and maybe peach.

Why?

I’m not sure, I just love blueberries. Probably because they are not always easy to find.

If you could be any animal, what would it be?

A house cat; I would get to just sit or lay around in the sun. Some people treat their house cats better than children, and who wouldn’t want to lay in the sun all day and get fed their favorite food?

Our last question is themed “Reason for the season” If you could send one message to the world what would it be?

Get to know people and call them by their name. “The sweetest music to anyone’s ears is the sound of his\her own name.” Be personable.

Any last thoughts or words?

There isn’t a person that works here that doesn’t want to do a good job. Everyone wants to feel they are contributing to a cause, and they are. It’s up to the leaders and the managers to encourage and motivate the staff.

Thank you for taking the time to get personal with us. We do appreciate all the work you have been doing at HCIS, and I’m sure everyone does too. Thanks again.