DAFVM Spotlight Employee: Shirley Guy
Shirley Guy
A clean lab is the foundation of good science, and the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine depends on Shirley Guy to keep its sterilizing process running.
Guy is the central sterile aide for the CVM Department of Clinical Sciences. She is responsible for making sure the daily operation of the central sterile supply runs as smoothly as possible. She handles the hazardous waste, needles and pins for the department. She also operates the gas sterilizer, steam sterilizer, autoclave sterilizer, ultrasonic instrument cleaning machine, and washing machine and dryer.
Guy became interested in her profession because of the multitasking aspect of her job.
“I clean and process instruments and linens for the entire clinic. You have to know which instruments belong in a particular tray and be able to work alone and fast in order to keep the daily routine going,” she said. “I also help train the technology students in processing surgical trays, and I provide customer service throughout the center. Being a proficient multitasker helped in the decision that this profession was the right one for me.”
Guy’s favorite memory from her job happened fairly early in her career.
“Six months after I started working in this position, I had to work alone for the first time,” she said. “I had to process a TPLO, tibial-plateau-leveling osteotomy, surgery by myself. A TPLO is a surgery performed on dogs to stabilize the stifle joint after ruptures of the cranial cruciate ligament. I had to handle nine to 10 trays by myself. The surgery was not as tough as I had anticipated, which made me proud of my accomplishment that day.”
Guy said her favorite part of the job is customer service.
“I enjoy getting to meet new people,” she said. “Helping people is one of the many enjoyable aspects about my job.”
In her spare time, Guy enjoys spending time with her husband, Timmy, and her son, Timothy. She also enjoys reading and watching television.
Editor's note: The Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine Spotlight Employee profiles are provided by the Office of Agricultural Communications at Mississippi State. For more information, please click here.
