Growing From Within Nadia Braxton

In her 14 years with MedStar Health, Nadia Braxton has had many growth opportunities to learn the many layers of our organization. Encouraged by her mother, a 20-year associate in the MedStar Washington Hospital Center lab, Nadia began her career at the Hospital Center as a unit secretary on 3C.

“I was in my 20s, working in retail, and I didn’t know what I wanted to do,” said Nadia. “I came here and found my way into a career that I love.”

After two years, she transitioned to medical office assistant 2 in the ambulatory clinic. Her next step was to Outpatient Radiology at Washington Cancer Institute, as a finance clerical representative. As her tenure continued, she learned about the Hospital Center’s X-ray Tech Program from 20-year associate El Mabry, who introduced Nadia to the program director. She completed the program and joined MedStar Prompt Care on Capitol Hill after graduation. Nadia spent two years there, moving up to team coordinator, then transferred to another MedStar Health facility in her native Baltimore. Then, fate intervened.

During her X-ray tech training, she had been paired with a seasoned associate, Bernard Braxton, Jr., who toured her around the hospital. They fell in love and, after they married, she returned to the Hospital Center. She has achieved professional certifications since, including CT scan certification, and looks forward to earning MRI certification.

“When you start here in clerical, you can’t imagine someday you would transfer to clinical,” said Nadia. “There’s room for growth here and within MedStar Health. MedStar Washington Hospital Center is a teaching hospital, so you can learn so much. And, if you do well here, you can handle anything.”

Nadia credits Nadine Heron, her mentor and clinical manager on 3C, with encouraging her career growth. She said they have remained close, and Nadia has sought Nadine’s advice throughout the years. Nadia hopes to continue her upward career trajectory, which possibly includes a move to leadership, and earning all possible certifications.

“What I love about my job is making patients happy. They’re here for various reasons, but we can make them feel better and that’s the best part.”