Lori Woods is the administrative coordinator of all Resource Centers for UofL Health – Brown Cancer Center.
It has been nine years since Lori began her career with UofL Health. During her time, she has seen the Resource Center expand to three locations, including the downtown location which recently re-opened to the public, the Resource Center located in UofL Health – Medical Center Northeast and soon to come – Bluegrass location which will also have a social worker on site. Of the nine years she’s been with UofL Health, six and a half of those years have been spent overseeing the operations of the center. The best part is, she loves every second of it.
Working at UofL Health, Lori can interact with people from across the system on any given day. No matter who she’s working with, she said it’s a cohesive environment and it makes a difference in the care our patients receive.
“We’re a health care system that thrives on great patient care and compassion,” Lori said. “We are growing, not staying idle.”
In her role, Lori can help with healing and providing comfort in a time of tenderness. Giving patients a purpose is why her job doesn’t feel like work but something she is blessed to do each day.
As administrative coordinator, she has been able to see the impact of patient healing the Brown Cancer Center provides and the comfort team members give in the most trying times. Through the Resource Center, Lori has been able to meet patients from all clinics, including both men and women, who have become family. These patients, including those who are uninsured, have used all the resources the center has to offer.
The center provides art and music therapy, acupressure therapy, reiki therapy (a Japanese form of energy healing), lymphatic draining and massage therapy from their therapist, Jennifer Coil. These therapy sessions are offered to patients in 12 sessions for free, as well as to caregivers, who can receive three massages as well. Patients also are allowed to pick their own wig and four scarves each year. All of this, including transportation services, are available to patients free of charge due to the generous donations and grants the center receives.
Lori has a goal to continue patient care in the center and make them feel good.
“I have some of the best staff and leaders,” Lori said. “They are all very passionate and make the engine run smoothly. Without their support and the outside grants and donations we receive, the Resource Center couldn’t exist.”
It takes approximately $125,000 per year to run the Resource Center. The center is vital to patients as it helps them heal, destress and have hope. It has also built a community for patients to have someone love and listen to them.
Lori is an Indiana native who grew up in the college town of Muncie. A fun fact about her is that she is a part of the Christian Motorcycle Association and partners with a local men’s facility to have two services a month.
Outside of work, Lori is currently watching Yellowstone and enjoys reading books of comedy and devotionals. She also enjoys autobiographies as she “like the real about people”, Lori says.
She has a sweet tooth. If she were able to pick her last meal on Earth, it would consist of 12 warm Krispy Kreme doughnuts and a big bowl of banana pudding!
In comparison, she starts her day with her own breakfast of champions – eggs over easy, rye bread with mustard and a cup of coffee.
“Live life to the fullest. Love like you’ve never been hurt. Dance like nobody’s watching” is a quote that Lori lives by. It’s also no surprise that, if she were to gain superpowers, that she would have the ability to have healing powers or fly.
Exhibiting a lack of work ethic, inability to go the extra mile, incompetence or being lazy are Lori’s pet peeves. Work hard, go the extra distance and do what’s right and you’ll stay on Lori’s good side.
If you ever hear a karaoke jam session flowing out the Resource Center, stop by and you may catch Lori jamming out to Beautiful by Christina Aguilera or I Look to You by Whitney Houston.
If you happen to see Lori at the Resource Center or somewhere downtown, don’t be shy and say “Hi!”
If you’re interested in donating to the Resource Center please visit UofLBrownCancerCenter.org to make a monetary donation to the M. Krista Loyd Resource Center.
