Some families share traditions, stories, and memories. Holly Benjamin and her mom, Dawn Jenkins, share all of that, plus a workplace.
Together, Holly and Dawn are celebrating an incredible 75 years of service to Altru. Holly, practice manager at Altru Family Medicine Residency and Outpatient Behavioral Health, is marking 25 years. Dawn, a pre-authorization specialist, is celebrating an extraordinary 50 years with Altru. Of those 50 years, Dawn worked in the Quality and Case Management/Social Work department for 45 of them.
Over the decades, they’ve each built careers shaped by change, relationships, and a shared commitment to helping others. Along the way, they’ve also been there for each other.
More than Career Advice
Holly has often turned to her mom when navigating career decisions.
“I definitely bounce a lot of things off my mom,” Holly said. “I’ve asked her a lot of questions, and she has talked me through some career change decisions.”
For Dawn, those conversations were less about giving advice and more about being there to listen.
That support has gone both ways, and their admiration for each other is clear.
Holly admires her mom’s longevity and ability to adapt.
“You cannot stick with a company for this long without having flexibility and the ability to connect with others,” Holly said.
Dawn appreciates the people and purpose behind Holly’s work, especially Altru’s focus on making care accessible.
What Keeps You Here?
For both, the answer comes back to people.
For Holly, it’s the patients and coworkers she’s met throughout her career.
“I have been blessed in loving my job, in each of the roles I’ve been in,” she said. “I have never dreaded coming to work.”
For Dawn, it’s her coworkers and the flexibility her career has provided.
Their careers have spanned decades of changes in healthcare, technology, processes, and workplaces. Through it all, they’ve continued to find reasons to stay and ways to grow.
Looking Ahead
After 25 and 50 years, what still makes them excited to come to work?
For Holly, it’s seeing people improve, whether that’s a patient, a process, or a team member.
“Truly, staff growth is high on that list,” she said. “When staff get challenged, or challenge themselves and grow, I get excited for them.”
For Dawn, it’s knowing her work directly supports patients and providers by helping ensure authorizations are in place, reducing financial burdens for patients while supporting Altru.
Their advice for those just beginning their Altru careers: Keep learning. Put yourself out there. Be open to feedback. Challenge yourself. And don’t give up when things don’t go the way you had hoped.
After 75 years combined, Holly and Dawn know careers aren’t built in a straight line. They’re built through relationships, change, challenges, and the people who make the journey worthwhile.
And for this mother and daughter, it’s special to have shared so much of that journey in the same place.
Ready to make a difference? Explore careers at Altru.