By day, Laura Thompson works as the recruitment manager at Children’s of Alabama, helping the hospital attract top talent to care for its patients. After hours, Laura continues striving to make a difference as president of the board of directors for Hand in Paw, a Birmingham-based nonprofit on a mission to improve human health and well-being through animal-assisted therapy.
Hand in Paw serves facilities across North Alabama and Tuscaloosa, including nursing homes, schools, youth centers, and medical facilities like Children’s of Alabama. We’re honored to introduce our newest FACE of Birmingham, Laura Thompson!
Tell us more about your role as recruitment manager at Children’s of Alabama.
I’ve been at Children’s for 18 years, and my current role as recruitment manager means I get to oversee our talent acquisition functions. Our team of full-time recruiters reports to me and we make sure that we are attracting the very best talent to work there.
What do you love most about your job?
It’s such a wonderful place. What better job than impacting the lives of our children, who are ultimately our future? Our mission is that we actually don’t want patients. We want them to live their lives in the community. And even though I don’t ever touch a patient, I get to play a role in that. I’m going to make sure that we have the very best caregivers.
What do you wish more people knew about Children’s of Alabama?
I think people don’t realize what a joyful place Children’s is. You would think a hospital is scary with lots of tears. But more often than not, there is laughter down the hallways, kids riding tricycles, and kids learning new things. It really is a bright and joyful place. I absolutely love it here.
Healthcare, in general, is a hard field. You see tragedy, triumphs, and everything in between. Strategizing about how we’re providing our staff and caregivers with all the emotional support they need gets me excited about my role.
How did you get involved with Hand in Paw?
I’ve always been a dog person. Early on in my career, I was walking through the hospital and saw dogs in the lobby, and I thought, “OK, how do I get to bring my dog to work?!” I found out about Hand in Paw, and I had recently just gotten a puppy – a Bullmastiff named Lula. We went through the program and were a therapy team for several years. She lived a wonderful life, but like all good dogs, she went to heaven.
Then I joined the junior board, and now I have the privilege of serving as the president of the board of directors. I’ve spent many years with Hand in Paw, and it’s been really wonderful to see them grow as an organization, as well as to see the support that they give Children’s.
What do you wish more people understood about animal-assisted therapy?
I think it’s becoming a little more widely known, but I want to reiterate that it’s not just touchy-feely. There is scientific data behind our physical response when we interact with animals. It truly affects our mood and the hormones in our bodies.
Can you share one of your memorable experiences as part of a pet therapy team?
My father passed away when I was 11, and my brother and I got to go to the Amelia Center, a grief support center that’s a part of Children’s of Alabama. They helped us immensely. It changed our lives for the better.
Fast forward, and I’m working at Children’s and on a pet therapy team with Lula. I got the opportunity to volunteer at the Amelia Center. There was a girl there, who was about three years old, who had become non-verbal. I told her and the other children my story and that Lula was my best friend — that I told Lula all my secrets and she would never tell anybody what I shared with her. I told the kids that if anybody wanted to talk to Lula, they absolutely could. By the end of that session, that little girl was down on the floor whispering to Lula.
It was so amazing to be able to see that full-circle moment. I love my role at Children’s and I love Hand and Paw, and it is really cool to see how they intersect.
What do you like to do when you’re not working or volunteering?
I enjoy hanging out with my family. We live in Homewood, and there’s nothing like a walk to the park and getting ice cream from Neighbors. We also like Italian ice from Doodles. I enjoy being a part of my community and supporting community events, whether that is a Hand in Paw event, [browsing] a farmers’ market, or going to the pool. I just enjoy Birmingham. I think it’s a great place to live.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
Something that has really helped me in my role now is that I need to be doing what only I can do. All the opportunities I was given along the way have gotten me here. I’m going to have to let go of some of that to give everyone behind me the same opportunities.
A lot of times we will say, I’ve always done this, I’m always going to keep doing it. Well, then, nobody else gets those opportunities and chances to learn and grow. And so no matter what role that is — mother, wife, manager, board member — it’s important to empower those around you.
Name three things you can’t live without.
Raspberry ginger ale, daily showers, and chocolate.
Lightning Round!
Favorite Birmingham area restaurant? GianMarco’s
Bucket list travel destinations? Italy and Croatia
Favorite hidden gem in Birmingham? The Garage. What looks like a hole in the wall has delicious food!
What book is on your nightstand? Your True Reflection by Don Ankenbrandt
On August 17 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Harbert Center, Hand in Paw will host its annual art auction fundraiser, Picasso Pets. Visit handinpaw.org to learn more about Hand in Paw and how you can support this organization and its mission.
All photos courtesy of Laura Thompson unless otherwise noted.
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