Shelby Cooper

Service Through Quality

Shelby Cooper’s career has always been rooted in service, first on the water, then in clinics, and now in support of fellow Veterans through her work at Leidos QTC Health Services. Her military journey began in San Francisco, where she served as a multi-boat engineer conducting search and rescue and law enforcement operations. That early hands-on experience set the stage for a shift into healthcare when she attended Health Services Technician school. From there, she was stationed at the clinic at Base New Orleans, where she cared for patients, managed referrals, and even supported the dental side of the clinic. She shared, “Caring for patients in the military was an easy transition to becoming a Medical Assistant. I loved patient care and knew how to speak to people in a professional but caring way.”

That continuity of care shaped her civilian career path. Cooper earned a bachelor’s degree in medical studies and stayed on the medical track, driven by a passion for patient care and connection. Still, the transition wasn’t without challenges. She explained, “My biggest challenge was showcasing my abilities on paper for job acceptance. Medical is one of the easier careers to transition to, but my full capabilities could not be exercised due to state licensing rules and regulations. I was used to treating my own patients but was downgraded to taking vitals and performing ancillary tests. Over time, I was able to show the provider that I was more capable than an ordinary medical assistant and we had a great relationship.”

When Cooper moved to Nashville, Tennessee, she found an opportunity to align her medical expertise with her service-driven values by joining Leidos QTC. Today, she serves as a Medical Quality Assurance Specialist, a role that draws directly from her military background. She noted, “My experience as a Health Services Technician gave me an understanding of the common injuries military members can endure during service that our claimants are submitting claims for. I am also very familiar with the forms and documents in the claimant medical records as I have seen and completed many of them during my time in service.” For Veterans considering their next career step, her advice is as follows: “I highly recommend applying to work at Leidos QTC. Not only do we play a role in serving other Veterans, but many Veterans work for the company as well. Everyone understands and appreciates the sacrifice. It provides a comfortable working environment.”

Since joining the company, Cooper has grown to appreciate the attention to detail required in reviewing cases and enjoys supporting her teammates, with aspirations to one day serve as a mentor or an Operations Support Analyst. As she advances in this chapter of her professional career, she is serving in a role where her service still matters, her experience is respected, and her work supports the wellbeing of fellow Veterans. She said, “Working for Leidos QTC has allowed me to serve my own community of Veterans. As we all may have served in different branches and different time frames, Veterans have a common goal of being compensated for injuries endured while keeping our country safe and free.”