Meet Vashene Barfield: Occupational Therapist and Vice President of Inpatient Rehabilitation Post-Acute Services

We had the good fortune of connecting with Vashene Barfield and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Vashene, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My initial thought process in starting my own business was “I have to find a way to protect healthcare professionals like myself and others who wear medical scrubs from embarrassment, loss of dignity at times, and from the inability to wear products due to color inconsistency”. Based on that initial processing, I knew I had to come up with an idea that had to be unique in nature, but still allow for some traditional look and feel .

During the process, I also felt I needed to determine if my frustration with medical scrubs not providing enough protection at times and having the ability to be pulled down and expose my body parts the same for others. At this point, I started informally interviewing other healthcare professionals about their issues with scrubs. In addition, at different time periods I also pointed out common problems when they took place, such as the “Peek-a-boo” situations and asked others their opinion. The “Peek-a-boo” situation is when someone bends over, their personal undergarment such as panties or boxer briefs, are exposed or even worse, their buttocks and entire buttocks. I basically determined my frustration was shared with each person I discussed it with.

At this point, I knew, when possible I had to step outside of the box and and create my own unique product to support others in healthcare including myself. I had to find a way to stop becoming embarrassed and physically exposed all at the same time.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Starting with my career, I’m a licensed Occupational Therapist by trade and currently serving the role as Vice President of Inpatient Rehabilitation of Post-Acute Services. I became an Occupational Therapist in 2002 receiving my Master of Occupational Therapy at Texas Women’s University. Went entering the field of Occupational Therapy, I always knew I wanted to move into cross functional operational management and educational leadership. Knowing this, I also knew I had to work harder, become very tenacious in everything I did, and dedicate myself to lifelong learning. This was a sacrifice I was willing to take because in the back of my mind, I could hear my mother telling me to I can do anything I set my mind to do, no matter what the odds are.

What sets me apart from others within my field and what I’m also most proud of is that, my ability to perform multiple job roles and responsibilities almost effortlessly without being asked to do so with the highest level of performance and outcomes. I often volunteered to learn duties/responsibilities of higher level roles in order to prepare myself for the next level. Others in my field often didn’t take this route because they wanted to be paid before they did any extra work. I always wanted to be proactive, being able to complete a role and skills above my current level spoke volumes and eventually is what lead to my success. Being innovative and developing professional skills can only pay off in the end.

I can remember being promoted three times in one year, but I worked late evenings and weekends picking up my daughter from daycare and bringing her back to the healthcare facility with me to attend late meetings and treat patients. I was divorced at the time. I would call her my “Little Assistant” and the patients I treated loved seeing her. Within a year and a half of graduating, I became a Director of Rehabilitation. From there I was promoted to Area Specialist, then Area Rehab Director, Regional Director and currently, I’m serving in a Vice President role. I credit all of this to being very persistent, volunteering my time (on the clock and off the clock), and making myself available to many opportunities. My favorite leadership duty has always been Educating and Training other healthcare professionals. I take great joy in completing public speeches, performing presentations and guest speaking at State and local conventions.

Was it easy, absolutely not! I had multiple challenges, one of my biggest challenges started before I became an Occupational Therapist. The challenge of being deemed acceptable as a young educated person that happens to be black. was the challenge. I’m originally from the south, Shreveport, Louisiana and during the time I wanted to become an Occupational Therapist, it was a profession mostly held by non-black professionals. I can remember applying 4 (four) times with a GPA of 3.9 before I finally was accepted. However, I never gave up trying to get that acceptance letter. Out of 25 (twenty-five) students the year I was accepted, only 3 (three) students were black and one of the us dropped out.

Throughout graduate school I pushed myself even harder. In the beginning I knew it wasn’t going to be a walk in the park. I was hospitalized once with Pneumonia and missed two days of class. When I returned, I remember asking for the notes from other classmates (mainly non-black). not one of them shared their notes. The one other black student didn’t take any on those days. In addition, I can also remember my Dean telling me I should quit, “Why do I think you can make it, especially having a young child”. He was always harder on me, but I was still successful. I was actually awarded the scholarship all of my classmates applied for, it was from the Dallas Women’s Club. My Mom was so proud of me, it was her prayers and encouragement that helped me keep pushing forward. She will always be my Shero.

I should have known after everything I experienced in graduate school, the real world was was going to be similar and more difficult at times. My challenges continued during my career. I worked harder and pushed myself even harder because, in order to progress in a management role, being a black female, I had to work double time with minimal to truly no errors. I can happily say, I did just that. I pride myself in obtaining higher outcomes, developing new operational processes others on my team didn’t come up with, and by always being willing to do “the job” even if the job or task wasn’t my own. I have been the only black person on the upper management team for years, but I never let it make me sweat or make me feel indifferent.

I owe all of the struggles I’ve had, challenges, and barriers to motivating me to develop my double patent pending one-piece medical scrubs line. They are also trademarked under AMRI SCRUBS. Lastly, the biggest lesson I’ve learned throughout my career and currently is to show up prepared and be present when it’s time to perform. Most of all, never be afraid to use my own voice to represent myself and others in need, if necessary.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I must say, if I was in Los Angeles and my girlfriend showed up, I would take them on downtown, Sunset Boulevard and Malibu Beach. The itinerary would be full of fun and excitement and a little relaxation.

To initiate the fun, we would go for dinner and drinks downtown at TAO, typically the week would begin on a Friday. Saturday would include brunch at CATCH LA, shopping downtown, and then dinner Malibu Beach at Mastro’s Ocean Club prior to the sun setting. I love hanging out on Sunset Boulevard, the restaurants and amazing hotels with lots of great night life is so entertaining. If we felt up to it, next stop is the Mondrian Hotel to hang out at the bar.

Sunday brunch is a must, so reservations will be set at Mastro’s Ocean Club, Malibu Beach. The experience itself has to be seen! I love the ambiance and the live talented musician’s that play there. After brunch, the nail salon for some R/R for our nails and feet. Hopefully, if a game is playing, the next stop before heading home is Beauty & Essex. For the remainder of the week, each day we would shop and dine in multiple locations (Monday: Westfield mall Woodland Hills and dinner at home, Tuesday more shopping in Beverly Hills and maybe a TMZ tour bus ride, Wednesday a massage after breakfast at La Prairie Spa and then Top Golf and dinner out in downtown, Thursday a relaxing day ordering in and Friday breakfast at Perch LA before she returns home).

That would be a perfect week for me!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The first person I would would like to dedicate this Shoutout to is my mother, God rest her beautiful soul. My mother was my biggest supporter, mentor, and she always encouraged me to NEVER give up on myself and the desires of my heart. As a young girl, I always wanted to grasp things quickly (really instantly) and my Mom would say, “Be anxious for nothing Shena, that’s what God’s word says.” She then encouraged me to be patient and always believe in myself while continuing to put all of my effort into achieving my goals.

The second person I must dedicate this Shoutout to is another beautiful soul, Mikayle Lowery. This young lady is a true “Mover and Shaker” as they say and I know she is on her way to become a major representative in her community and our society. She is a true triple threat, humble, and very motivating. I am thankful for the recommendation by Mikayle and I hope to return the favor some day.

Website: www.amriscrubsandmore.com

Instagram: amri_scrubs_and_more

Facebook: AMRI Scrubs & More, LLC

Other: www.Etsy.com My shop is labeled AMRI SCRUBS & MORE LLC

Image Credits
All pictures taken by me, no other credits.