Before enlisting to be a phlebotomist with the American Red Cross, Philip Sola spent five years in the U.S. Army, first in infantry and then in logistics, serving two tours of duty in Afghanistan.
Following his honorable discharge, Sola was in the job market and answered an ad to be a Red Cross blood transportation driver. To his surprise, when he showed up for his interview it was instead for a blood collection technician position, which included a month of concentrated medical training.
Sola shared that his military training taught him the art of having patience and how to work under pressure – both skills he finds helpful with his blood collection work. While he enjoys the hands-on aspect of the job, it’s the human interaction and meeting new people he appreciates the most. According to Sola, his blood donors always come in with the best personal stories and advice on life.