Introducing… an administrative assistant

Audra McMaster is an administrative assistant for West Lincoln Memorial Hospital (WLMH). She has been with Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) for 11 years.

What do you love most about your role?

The variety of challenges presented to me on a daily basis allows me to wear many different hats on any given day. I truly enjoy helping all those who cross my path, including staff, physicians, volunteers, our foundation and the general public.

What do you find challenging?

The most challenging piece of this role involves daily distractions. So often, I am pulled in different directions, and it can be easy to lose focus when the jobs always change from day to day (and sometimes minute to minute). Because our site is smaller, there are many times where I must jump into other duties. I have to juggle several balls at once while still completing daily work.

I truly enjoy helping all those who cross my path.

Describe a typical day.

I perform many different tasks as requested and required, and have a tendency to say ‘yes’ to work that is oftentimes outside my scope. However, our staff are a community. We help each other all the time when there isn’t someone specific to help.

Tell us about your most gratifying experience at HHS.

In 2017, I received the WLMH Quality Award for Customer Service Focus. This is one of three awards given out each year at our hospital. I was nominated by my colleagues in the administration office. It was so lovely to be recognized for what I consider just doing my job.

What’s one thing people would be surprised to learn about your role?

This role has really evolved over time. I think people would be surprised to learn the number of hats worn in this position – minute taker, code captain, event organizer, responding to comments and questions from the public, parking assistant, way-finder, WLMH Auxiliary fashion show model, ticket seller for the WLMH Foundation 50/50 raffle, payroll clerk, IT liaison, space committee member, room booking coordinator, telephone list updater… I could go on! You could see why someone in this role would have to truly enjoy the job – and I really do.