Caring for the next generation

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Melanie Bulow-Gonterman
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  "Every day is different," began Senior Airman Cherrell Warren, 6th Medical Operations Squadron pediatrician medical technician. "I get to see how much personality children display at such a young age and to see many children grow from birth to the early years as they begin school."

The Arlington, Texas native enlisted in the Air Force on May 25, 2010, with hopes of working in the medical field.

"I lucked out," said Warren, with a grin on her face. "I came in open general and ended up with a job I wanted."

Upon arriving to MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, she began her journey in family health and rapidly progressed to the immunizations/allergy section before transitioning to her current section, pediatrics.

A typical day for Warren consists of screening in a patient, ranging from a week to 18 years old, and recording baseline vital signs to include: height, weight, blood pressure, heart rate, respirations and head circumference for the doctor. She tracks the growth of the child with growth charts that are completed at every visit to ensure they are progressing correctly.

"If they are not progressing properly that may be a slight indication of an underlying problem that we must try to determine," said Warren.

Warren also performs minor exams and procedures such as rapid strep test, ear irrigations, electrocardiographs, wart removal, suture removals, vaccinations, intravenous therapy, visual acuity exams and hearing tests.

"Some days can be challenging, but finding a way to connect with each child is key to getting the patient to cooperate in order to get the best assessment," said Warren.  "To many of us pediatric technicians, including myself, the children often feel like extension of your own family; and when they are not feeling well, it is our goal to provide the best care possible in order to get them healthy and happy again."

As much as she enjoys working with children, she is ready to further her knowledge and become proficient in another aspect of her overall job. She hopes to be assigned to dermatology in the future.

Warren's end goal of being in the military is to be a nurse practitioner or physician assistance. She is currently attending school to complete her pre-requisites in order to become eligible to apply for the Nurse Enlisted Commissioning Program.