Carilion Proud: Get to Know Scott Yates

Meet Scott Yates, Staff Photographer with Communications, Marketing and Planning.

How long have you worked at Carilion? 1.5 years

How does your job contribute to patient care and/or Carilion’s mission?
It’s my job to support our front-line healthcare practitioners and their support staff by having curiosity about the daily life of the Carilion organization. I document and publish entertaining and informative photographs that tell the story of the daily activities from every corner of the Carilion organization. By publishing my photographs in collaboration with the rest of the Creative Services team, we provide valuable and necessary information for all Carilion stakeholders.

What is your favorite thing about working here?
My camera gives me permission to explore corners of the world that I would never have thought about before. Here, I get to witness our brilliant doctors, nurses and technologists collaborate elegantly to perform high-tech surgeries and courageously care for patients rushed into the ED. I get to hang out with inventors at the Center for Simulation, Research and Patient Safety, and fly in a Life-Guard helicopter. I have one of the coolest jobs I can think of.

Describe a typical day in your job.
A typical day starts with me checking in with my fellow Audio/Visual Team members to see what our visual needs are for the day. Regularly, I meet with new hires and employees assuming new roles in the organization and marking the occasion by making their new official Carilion headshot used for all our official communications. Lately, I’ve been studying for my drone pilot license, documenting several exciting Carilion events like the invention of a new surgical tool for one of our annual reports, the opening of the new Crystal Spring Tower, the Employee Art Show, and photographing group portraits every time a medical team receives an industry award of excellence. After each assignment, the former news photographer in me inspires me to rush back to my office to edit and file my pictures as soon as possible so that other co-workers like the social media team can use them to do their jobs.

How are you involved in your community outside of work?
Outside of work I belong to the community darkroom of a local art gallery that supports film photographers. I attend a monthly photography meet-up, I support in various ways Roanoke’s independent news outlets, and I do a bit of hobby farming on some property in Troutville.

What’s one thing that would surprise people about you?
I guess since my job requires that I be fairly extroverted, it may surprise people to know that I feel really shy most of the time.

Name someone at Carilion who has had an impact on your career or who has inspired you.
To name just one person is not really possible. My A/V Team, including team leader, Joe Castiglioni, are brilliant filmmakers and storytellers who inspire me to grow my own storytelling skills. And Wali (and his handler Dr. Tara Mitchell), our very first facility dog who works at Carilion Children’s Tanglewood, started working here right after I lost my own dog, Ollie, in the fall of 2024. Not only did Wali comfort me during my grieving process, but several times I’ve witnessed him work with our youngest patients and staff members bringing us all joy and the motivation to heal ourselves.

Why did you decide to work at Carilion?
As a native Roanoker, I knew that Carilion Clinic is a pillar of economic stability and physical health of my hometown and of southwest Virginia. Through my previous career as a local photojournalist, I had prior experience working beside the communications professionals in this department and I respected what and how they did their jobs. When it was time to change careers, it was a no-brainer to apply for this position.

What surprised you when you started working here?
I experienced burnout in my previous role in the media. And I knew healthcare can be a high-intensity field, too. But I have never felt more supported at work than I do here at Carilion. Everyone, from maintenance crews to our senior management team, seems to enjoy their roles. That helps us be better coworkers, and in turn, helps us improve the health of the communities we serve. Plus, InsideCarilion.org has so many resources for personal and professional benefits and well-being that I’m still discovering new options.

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