Doug Darling is very dedicated to his work as a Maintenance Technician for Mason General Hospital & Family of Clinics.  He keeps our Hospital and Clinic equipment running in good shape, and no job is too big for him to tackle.  And that means a lot as construction of the new Mason Clinic begins to take shape on the Hospital campus.  He is always willing to go the extra mile, and it is for that reason Doug was selected by his peers as MGH&FC’s January Employee of the Month.

It’s not Doug’s first rodeo ‒ he got this recognition for the first time in 2013.  Hired as a groundskeeper at Mason General Hospital over 13 years ago, in 2010 Doug was moved inside to Maintenance 1.  Last year he moved up to Maintenance 2, with a goal for the position of Lead Maintenance Technician.

“He plans ahead and thinks outside of the box,” said his nominator, adding, “Big projects that we estimate should take a number of days, Doug completes in a single day.  He takes on additional projects without hesitation, and can be relied on to be very thorough.” 

Doug feels fortunate to have a job he enjoys that offers variety.  His role is at ‘the heart’ of the hospital plant, as he maintains all the equipment that makes the Hospital and Clinics function and operate smoothly.  When staff and patients issues are brought to his attention, he is right there to fix the problem.

“It’s nice to be a part of the whole team effort,” he said.  “Everyone here has a role, and I like that I can take care of the things behind the scenes.”  He lives close by and walks to work every day, and according to his nominator is always cheerful, “…even after he missed his lunch and last break to meet a deadline.”

Born in Seattle and raised in Shelton, Doug graduated from Shelton High School in 2002 and worked for a couple of seasons at Lake Limerick Golf Club, where he got a lot of his training as a groundskeeper. His father, a long-time employee of the Golf Club’s pro shop, still works there today.  Doug continues to upgrade his skills to meet code requirements while working full time at MGH&FC.  He is currently enrolled in a six-course ‘Healthcare Foundation Leadership’ online program with Kentucky Community College that requires him to do 20 hours per week of classwork.  He expects to complete his certificate this summer, marking his 14^th year working at MGH&FC. 

Doug and his wife Stephanie have two daughters ‒ Rylee 11 and Delaney, 7.  When not at work or studying he enjoys time with his family, woodworking, and hunting in the fall.  An avid hunter of deer and elk, Doug always makes time for his annual ‘big getaway’ when hunting season comes around.

  MGH&FC is certified by Det Norske Veritas - Germanischer Lloyd (DNV-GL) and is a licensed and accredited acute care hospital with a level four emergency trauma designation. There are more than 100 physicians on staff in 19 specialties.  MGH&FC now offers Virtual Care ‒ 24/7.  For more information on Virtual Care or to find a health care provider, go to www.MasonGeneral.com.