Lisa Aten started working in the medical field over 30 years ago. She was initially in the retail business and was an area sales manager for Dillards Dept. stores. Even then, she loved working with people and helping them. The retail business demanded a lot of time, and she felt she needed to be home more with her family, hence the change in career path. Aten started working at Grant Medical Clinic with fabulous doctors; Dr. Nevile Grant, John Grant and J. William Campbell were all great teachers and showed her the ropes. She really enjoyed working with the patients and helping them and try to treat them how she would like to be treated. Aten stayed in primary care for a long time before deciding on a change.
From there, she came to Washington University for the first time as part of the Department of Urology but missed the relationships she made with patients in primary care. Aten went back to primary care for a time, but the doctors she had worked with left the practice, leading her to return to Washington University. Aten has now been with the Department of Neurology for 15 years and loves everyone she works with.
Aten has been married for 46 years and is surrounded by males — all brothers, two sons and three grandsons. She does have two great daughters-in law, though. She enjoys doing all kinds of activities with her family. Currently, Aten spends time at baseball games with her 10-year-old grandson who plays on a select team. She feels like she has hit a home run all the way around with her family, her job and all the great people she works with.
