Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Stogner.
Hi Courtney, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My story is one with many “stepping stones” as I like to call them. I knew in undergrad that I wanted a career in healthcare but I wasn’t sure what that entailed. I toyed with ideas of medical sales, biomedical engineering- which I pursued to a certain extent with shadowing at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta in their prosthetics and orthotics group, and eventually, I decided that I would become a physician. I bought the MCAT study book, changed my college major, and started the pursuit to become a M.D. I bombed the MCAT- to the point that there was no use to try again. I re-routed. I decided that I would love to become a Physician Assistant until I couldn’t pass Organic Chemistry and then my dreams re-routed again. I landed a role at a busy orthopedic practice in clinic as a Clinical Assistant. I was happy, had patient interaction, and complacent. My husband encouraged me to get my Master’s in Public Health. I graduated from the University of New England with my master’s degree and stayed in my same job, with my same pay, for the next five years. I was eager but complacent.
During that time, I had 2 beautiful daughters and grew myself professionally and personally. I began a position at the same orthopedic practice in business development/marketing. It was a wonderful change but I simply wasn’t fulfilled. First and foremost, I am a mom. I wanted to be able to achieve both my professional aspirations as well as my dream of being an active role model for my two children. Each of these “stepping stones” led me to the opportunity to open Apollo Occupational Health. In November 2022, my husband and I along with our business partners and long-time friends, Dr. Shomari and Camelia Ruffin opened the doors of Apollo Occupational Health. I am living my dream. I am able to be an active mom to my two girls as well as live out my professional dream, both in the clinic setting and in the field while marketing. Apart from my business, I love speaking to high school and early college-level students. I want to tell my story and to let them know that it is ok to be unsure of your next step. It is acceptable to not exactly be sure of what you want to do with the rest of your life. You will find your passion. Use each failure as a stepping stone. Re-route, re-group, and re-up. Your dream is waiting for you.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth road. I failed along the way and been forced to re-route my path. The process of opening Apollo has not been free of challenges either. I was heartbreakingly terminated from my job which caused financial and emotional stress on my family. Although it was a challenge, it was once again a stepping stone to reach the overall goal. We’ve also encountered the typically bumps here and there that come with opening a new business. I have learned so much along the way and thankfully my husband, Tyler, has supported me each and every step. He has sacrificed so much to help me achieve my dreams. My family and friends are also the most amazing cheerleaders. From business advice to simply coming to sit on my couch and chat at the end of the day. I am truly surrounded by an incredible support system.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Apollo Occupational Health?
Apollo Occupational Health is a full-spectrum occupational health-only facility handing everything from workers’ compensation treatment to all corporate services including but not limited to, physicals, DOT urine drug screening, custom agility testing, ergonomics package, CPR classes, and on-site services. I love the customization that Apollo offers. We are not your typical medical office. We wanted the comfortable atmosphere for our patients- hence the cowhide rug and barn doors in our lobby. We see the first report of injury patients, meaning they were just injured on the job. They are immediately thinking of his/her family, income, job security, and lost time. We want them to feel comfortable and know that we truly care and our goal is to return them back as quickly and safely as possible. We also pride ourselves in our customization and communication. Communication is crucial in our industry as it takes a team of people to safely return an injured worker. We can also customize any program to fit a company’s needs. Occupational medicine is not a one-size fits all business.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Give yourself grace. You will not know everything from the jump. Be patient and lean on others to learn what you don’t know. I wish I would have given myself more grace from the start. I am very independent and like to do things on my own. There are some things that I simply can’t do on my own and that is where leaning on others is incredibly important. Pray, meditate, and practice self-care. You can and will achieve your goals but you have to practice grace and patience along the way.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.apollooh.com
- Instagram: apollohealthus
- Facebook: Apollo Occupational Health
- Linkedin: Apollo Occupational Health
