Shane Karlowicz, a Machinist Mechanic in the Cleveland Clinic Facilities Engineering Department, likens his job to that of a firefighter. “When something breaks, we fix it,” he says. “Or better yet, we catch it and fix it before it breaks.” 

The Facilities Engineering Department team supports all the other trades at Cleveland Clinic. “We do everything from welding shaped metal to machining, whether it’s for the plumbing or for the boiler system,” Shane says. 

“We can fabricate anything with the tools we have here with the mills, like the CNC machine. (In CNC, or computer numerical control machining, the operator programs the machine to perform a particular task.) We also have a plasma cutter that we use to make signage.” 

No two days are the same, according to Shane. “One day you could be on the roof replacing a fan, another day you could be fixing a railing in the parking garage, another day you could be welding the bell that people ring when they come out of the Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute.” 

Finding his niche 

Shane began his professional career as a floor installer in his family’s business. “After about 10 years, it was taking a toll on my body,” he says. “I was always interested in the trades, so I asked some friends about their jobs. I found that CNC machining was really in my wheelhouse.” 

Shane went back to trade school to learn CNC machining. With this new skill, he worked for different companies in production machining, including DuPont and General Electric, where he made medical equipment. 

While Shane enjoyed the work and the money, he felt overworked. “There was no time for family,” he says. “I saw an ad on a job board that Cleveland Clinic was looking for a machinist. Cleveland Clinic always had the best ratings and the best reputation, so I applied for the job and was hired.” 

A perfect match 

That was two years ago, and Shane says he feels like he’s found the ideal fit at Cleveland Clinic. “This job brings my hobby of tinkering with things at home and my machining capabilities all into one place,” he says. “I’ve had other job offers, but the work/life ratio that we have here is great. It’s perfect for me.” 

In this position, Shane says he’s benefiting from the experiences of his fellow caregivers. He’s also learning new skills, such as welding. “I’m surrounded with a wealth of knowledge,” he says. “I came in here with no welding knowledge. Now I can get two pieces of metal to stick together, and I want to keep improving. One of my goals is to get better at welding.” 

Support from fellow caregivers and from the top 

Teamwork is an important part of the department’s success. “The first thing we do in the morning before anybody heads out on a job is huddle to discuss what we’re all working on, and bounce ideas off each other ” Shane says. “It’s a really great environment. It’s one of the best I’ve worked in.” 

That support extends to Shane’s managers, and to the entire Cleveland Clinic enterprise. “Every year, we set goals for ourselves, and management gives us the tools to achieve those goals,” Shane says. “Cleveland Clinic does allow us time to train with more experienced caregivers. So, they definitely give us a path and plan to get better.” 

Helping is its own reward 

Shane’s appreciation for his job goes beyond the mechanical and whatever he is repairing at the moment – he knows the work his team does has a direct impact on Cleveland Clinic’s mission. ”The main word would be rewarding. It’s very rewarding work, because you know you’re helping people,” he says. “Even if I’m just replacing a fan for a certain area of the hospital, it keeps that area going and treating patients.” 

Shane and his fellow Facilities Engineering caregivers are among the heroes behind the scenes at Cleveland Clinic. They are not the typical frontline caregivers that you think of in healthcare, but their services are vital to the smooth and safe operation of the entire hospital system.