Third Generation Shriners Children’s Employee Reflects on Her Years of Service: Meet Aimee James

In a time where many employees do not stay at a job for more than a few years, Aimee James is unique. Both Aimee’s mother and grandmother were employees at Shriners Children’s Portland. Between her volunteer hours and time employed, Aimee has been with the organization for 40 years. The trio has close to 100 years of combined service to the hospital, which aligns nicely with the 100th anniversary the hospital celebrated in 2024.

As far back as she can remember, Aimee has memories of Shriners Children’s. Her grandmother, Beverly Braaten, worked in the environmental services department from 1971-2005, and her mother, Leslie Wright, worked in radiology and other departments in the hospital from 1977-2018. Some of Aimee’s earliest memories include walking to the NE 82nd and Sandy Blvd location, which was built in 1924, to visit her mother and grandmother. When Aimee was 6 years old, one of her first volunteer activities was producing a movie called Aimee Goes to Surgery. This movie was made to help ease surgical patients’ fears and to help answer their questions. Aimee also attended employee celebrations and events from the time she was 6. She even had the opportunity to meet Portland Trail Blazers basketball players Clyde Drexler and Terry Porter during one of their visits to the hospital.

In 2002, Aimee joined her mother and grandmother, becoming an employee of Shriners Children’s and starting a journey of helping with many different initiatives since then. “I have traveled to outreach clinics in Medford, Anchorage, LaGrande and Bellingham, moved offices all over the hospital, and stayed the night during storms,” Aimee said.

She has worked in radiology and the inpatient unit, and currently works in the patient access department as a new patient coordinator, where she is instrumental in getting new patients set up and ready for their first appointment. Over the years, Aimee has seen many changes at Shriners Children’s. When she first started at the hospital, much of the work was done by hand on paper, and today, most of that work is done electronically. Aimee was also a part of moving from the old section of the hospital to the new section of the building when the latest expansion opened in 2008.

For a few years Aimee worked side by side with her mother and grandmother. She has clearly been influenced by her mother and grandmother’s dedication to Shriners Children’s. Aimee is now in her 23rd year of employment with Shriners Children’s Portland. She is grateful for the skills and knowledge she has obtained through her work with the physicians, nurses, certified nursing assistants, residents, fellows, staff, volunteers, patients and their families she has come into contact with throughout her years.

She is truly thankful for the lifelong friends she has made at Shriners Children’s Portland, and has been touched by the countless patients and families she has encountered. Aimee is especially grateful to Michael Aiona, M.D., for trusting, educating and guiding her.

Looking back over her years of service at Shriners Children’s, Aimee feels very proud of her family’s continued support of the organization. “I feel so fortunate to have been in the unique position to have worked with both my grandma and my mom,” Aimee said. “They cared deeply for both the patients we served and the mission. They made it clear those two ideals were my priority as an employee.”