Posted on August 15, 2025
She finds great reward in helping people achieve things they didn’t think they could.
Susan Wagner is a certified phlebotomist and was a medical assistant for a year, working for an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist at several outpatient facilities. She eventually traded people for animals, earning her certification in animal husbandry, and built a career working as a veterinary technician and surgical specialist for three different Maryland-area vet practices over the course of 17 years.
After many years assisting with orthopedic surgeries, taking x-rays and lifting large animals, her aches and pains signaled it was time to find another job. “My body was really taking a beating and towards the end I could barely lift my hands,” she said.
A former colleague, who’d since joined Penn-Mar Human Services, told Susan about a job opening for a Direct Support Professional (DSP) that would be “a perfect fit” for her. Susan applied and was hired.
In hindsight, she can now see how the universe was leading her to a profession that provides support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The passion for supporting people with IDD runs in the family – her mother-in-law, an educator for 20 years, is a teacher’s assistant for a child with special needs, and Susan’s father drives a school bus for The ARC.
Susan spent her first year at Penn-Mar looking for activities, social engagements, and volunteer opportunities for the people she supported. She was soon promoted to Senior DSP and currently works at the Penn-Mar West day and community-based program. Her days are busy as she accompanies the people she supports to grocery shop, go to doctors’ appointments, prep for volunteer assignments, and explore the community as they so choose.
She also finds great reward in helping people achieve the things they want to do, but don’t think they can. “I encouraged one gentleman to become more active by taking walks. Now he is in physical training at a gym and doing fantastic.” Walks in the park with Susan and another DSP helped improve his stamina and now he is doing regular 1K runs!
When the wife of someone Susan supports left him after 17 years he was devastated. He was certain he couldn’t function without her and would have to move back in with his mother. Susan supported him as he learned how to clean his house, organize his kitchen, keep his food safe, and budget his finances.
Susan also helped to support a woman who, when frustrated, sometimes communicated in ways that negatively impacted her relationships. Susan encouraged her to reflect on how she felt when others spoke badly to her. After connecting her with a therapist, people who have known this woman for years comment on how much happier she seems to be.
Susan credits the person-centered training she receives at Penn-Mar with enlightening her to the struggles of people with disabilities and the endless possibilities for improving their lives. Achieving her DSP-III Career Ladders certification in only one-and-a-half years has “meant everything to her” and enriched the value she brings to her team and the people she supports.
“Working for Penn-Mar has been quite an unexpected experience,” said the married mother of a son and two daughters. “It’s a path I didn’t originally envision, but now I can’t imagine doing anything else. I have found my spot!”