Teresa Odom joined Magellan in March of 1999 as a Care Manager. Twenty-three years and eight positions later, she is currently the vice president of clinical care services. Continue reading as we hear more about Teresa’s career journey at Magellan.

Why did you join Magellan?

I was working as a clinician, providing in-home therapy for families, youth, and marital therapy for a non-profit agency. I was also doing crisis intervention for families identified by the juvenile authorities to attempt to maintain the child in the home, usually late at night or middle of the night interventions. I worked long hours and many days a week and was on call. I was looking for a steadier schedule while learning and growing in the clinical realm. I knew a few clinicians who worked at Magellan at the time and decided to see if it was a good fit for me. After a rigorous interview process and a good recommendation, I was offered a position and joined the Magellan family.

Describe your current role and what a day in your life looks like.

In my current role as vice president of Clinical Care Services, I have immediate oversite of the clinical operations for a segment of our health plan business. I work closely with the clinical managers to ensure the success of our operational measures and our goal of putting the member first. We utilize various tools to ensure we meet our objectives and support the member through their behavioral health journey. We work together to ensure that our operational flows, goals, and staff have the tools they need to be successful. We utilize data to demonstrate our progress and identify areas where we may be able to improve our work.

What has been your career path?

I have desired to be a part of the helping field as far back as the 8th grade. As I started my formal education in social work and then counseling, I realized I had found a career that best fit my personality and strengths. As I completed my formal education and supervision in counseling, I knew I wanted to stay on a career path of helping individuals find their path and build on their strengths to manage life through difficult times. I earned my bachelors in social work and sociology, masters in Counseling and I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Employee Assistance Professional. I believe individuals have the inner strength and resiliency to find a better place on the other side of that journey. When I came to Magellan, I was extremely blessed with some fantastic preceptors and mentors who helped me continue building on those beliefs and striving to do my best. These individuals often saw strengths in me that I didn't always see in myself. Through their coaching, guidance, and support, I kept growing and expanding my knowledge and skills to move through the ranks at Magellan.

What do you love most about working at Magellan?

The people. I have been blessed to work with some of the most amazing people over the years—individuals who are genuinely dedicated to their jobs and co-workers. Over my tenure, I have experienced some triumphs and life struggles experienced by myself and peers. I have seen some amazing outpour of support during times of tragedy. The outpour of generosity, support and comfort has helped people to overcome and move forward. It is the same with celebrating great things in life, such as weddings, the birth of a child, or other milestones. The atmosphere created is one of genuine caring and family.

What is life like outside of Magellan?

I'm married with three four-legged children, two ShihTzu's, Daisy and Cletus, and a Cat, LuLu. They truly are a big part of our family and some of the most spoiled pets you will find. My husband is retired and keeps busy with the many "honey do" projects left for him. We love to travel and really enjoy cruising. He doesn't fly, so our adventures consist of many road trips. We have traveled through much of the US, seeing amazing sights and being true tourists.

Tell us something about yourself that people don’t know.

Some people know that before COVID my husband and I were avid bowlers. He got me into bowling when we first started dating 25 years ago. It began as a fun thing to do as a couple, and over the years, I took a great interest in the sport and started to take it more seriously. After years of learning and joining a couple's and women's league, I shot my first perfect game of 300 only one month after bowling a 299. You can find me in the bowling hall of fame.

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