It’s never too late to try your hand at another career — just ask Dr. Maureen Olson. 

“I spent several years teaching elementary school and working as a media specialist at the middle school level,” said Olson, who is now medical director of Stamps Health Services. “But I always wanted to be a doctor, so I decided to enroll in medical school and became one.”

Olson graduated from the Morehouse School of Medicine and completed her postdoctoral residency at the Emory University School of Medicine in the Department of Emergency Medicine.

As a doctor, Olson became active in both state and national medical organizations, serving as president of the Georgia College of Emergency Physicians and on the national council and several other committees for the American College of Emergency Physicians. 

Recently, The Whistle sat down with Olson to learn more about her experiences while working at Tech. Here’s what she said:  

So, how did you end up working at Tech? About a year and a half ago, I broke both of my ankles. Before my injury, I was working one full-time and two part-time jobs. One shift brought me to the health center at Tech, which I thought was great, since one of my sons had attended school here. After my injury, I worked more frequently at Tech, which led to me being offered my current position (which I started in February 2010).

What does your job entail? I spend most mornings working in the clinic and afternoons are spent doing administrative work and at meetings. I’ve also started a few new programs, including the Ambassadors Club and a mentoring group (where students shadow Health Center physicians). Both are for pre-health majors.    

What do you enjoy most about your job? What do you enjoy least about it, and how do you make the least-favorite aspect bearable? I enjoy the energetic atmosphere at Tech. If I had to pick something, I’d say that my least- favorite aspect of this job is the pressure of deadlines. To stay sane, I just try to do a little at a time and not get overwhelmed — and a chocolate bar helps, too. 

What piece of technology could you not live without? My iPhone and the FaceTime app, which is a lot like Skype. That app is going to come in really handy in the near future, because my first grandchild is due this week.   

What are three things everyone should do while working at Tech? Go to a football or basketball game. Walk around campus in the spring and look at the dogwoods and azaleas in bloom. Go to the Ferst Center — even though I haven’t done this yet, it’s on my to-do list. 

What is the best place to grab lunch (on or off campus), and what do you order? Miller Union, and I’ll order anything with chocolate in it or a sandwich or burger, and Flip, where the burgers are pretty good.

Tell me something surprising about yourself. Chocolate is the way to my heart — plain, dark chocolate. Oh, and I still believe in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and leprechauns with pots of gold. I’m really just a kid at heart. 

If you weren’t in your current occupation, what would you be doing? I’d be a travel photographer.