“We’ve always been close,” Brittanie Shanks, 30, said of her sister, Lauren Witherspoon, 28. “We attended the same middle school and high school, and we come from a close family. But now that we’re adults, we’re going through similar major experiences like starting our families and being young professionals in health care.”
The two sisters volunteer together, mentor girls together, will endow a scholarship together and both work at Barnes-Jewish Hospital (BJH).
They grew up in St. Louis, where their parents raised them to value education. Both have doctorate degrees – Witherspoon graduated from Howard University to pursue a career as a physical therapist, and Shanks graduated from Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University to become a pharmacist.
At Howard University, Witherspoon met a recruiter from BJH during a career fair, which led her to work at the hospital on innovation unit, 11300. She later encouraged her sister to pursue a career at the hospital.
“I liked the environment and the supervisors were welcoming,” said Witherspoon. “I accepted the position before I graduated from physical therapy school, and I’ve been here for about two years. My sister and I really don’t get to see each other, but it feels good to know she’s here.”
Shanks started her career in retail pharmacy before coming to BJH. “There’s so many opportunities here, especially at The Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center,” said Shanks, clinical pharmacist for oncology at BJH.
When Witherspoon started volunteering, Shanks joined her. They both supported Sky is the Limit, a career preparation program at Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club. They now both mentor and encourage African-American girls to pursue degrees in science and technology. Shanks and Witherspoon also support the BJC School of Outreach and have presented at career health fairs for youth.
The sisters’ next endeavor is creating a scholarship for African-American girls. “Our mother is a school principal and pushed the value of a good education, so the scholarship will be in her name,” said Shanks.
The two say they want to use their own money to fund the scholarship, which will be announced to the public once Witherspoon and Shanks set the criteria. They hope to help more young girls gain an interest in science and technology and pursue advanced degrees.
“Working together and starting a scholarship in our adulthood has definitely made our relationship closer,” said Witherspoon. “We have a very special and cherished connection.”
