In 1979, the Sony Walkman was released, and the CD-ROM was a brand-new invention. That same year Elizabeth Barrick packed up and moved across the country from New York to Houston in search of better career opportunities. Forty-five years later, Houston is home, and Barrick has spent most of that time as a dedicated and valued member of the Baylor College of Medicine team.

“Four of my college friends had relocated to Texas, so I came to visit, and it was like, ‘Jobs everywhere!’ Anybody would hire you,” Barrick said. “I moved here because they were here, and a friend helped me land my first job entering prescriptions for nursing homes. That’s where I learned terms like PRN, BRD, and those kinds of things.”

After gaining foundational knowledge of the medical field at the prescription company, Barrick interviewed for a medical transcriptionist position at Baylor – a decision that would shape the next four decades of her career. When Barrick joined the College in 1980, medical transcriptionists played a critical role in both the clinical and research settings.

After successfully completing a typing test, a medical terminology assessment and a spelling exam, she officially joined Baylor’s Department of Urology staff as a medical transcriptionist.

Before electronic medical records became the standard, medical transcriptionists were essential for turning physicians’ dictated notes into written reports for the healthcare team. Barrick was part of a small, five-person group that worked closely with faculty, residents and fellows on projects that shaped both clinical care and research.

As EMRs gained traction and transcription needs declined, Barrick adapted by transitioning into a new role alongside the department’s then-medical editor, Carolyn Schum. In this new role, she assisted in editing the department website, CVs, publications and books.

In 2010, unexpected circumstances led to Barrick being laid off. However, six weeks later a twist of fate brought her back to Baylor. With the administrative landscape evolving across the College, she embraced yet another transition as she stepped into a new role as an administrative assistant.

“The skills I learned in my first and second roles are still with me today,” she said. “I still use editing and transcription skills, and I even have a foot pedal that I pull out occasionally. My years of transcription and working with Carolyn Schum were when I really mastered Microsoft Word. Learning the technology made a huge difference. So much has changed when I think about how much work we produced back then compared to now. Pre-internet was a completely different world – the internet changed everything.”

Forty-five years later, Barrick has worked alongside countless faculty, residents and fellows, thriving under the leadership of four different department chairs and four Baylor presidents. Through changes in roles, leadership and technology, she has adapted with resilience; yet it’s the simple things that bring her the most joy. When asked about her favorite part of the job, she smiled and said, “My favorite part would still be formatting – putting together a handout, things like that.”

What was meant to be a two-year adventure turned into more than four decades of growth, learning and adaptation. Today, Barrick calls Houston home, where she lives with her two cats, Robbi and Carly. Her son, Michael, lives nearby in Richmond. Through all the changes over the years, one thing has remained constant: Barrick is, and always will be, an integral part of the Baylor College of Medicine family.

By Alexandra Brown, senior marketing and sales associate in the Department of Urology