Dr. Claire C. Muselman: Leader, Teammate, Encourager with Intellect & Grace

If you've read any of our Women's History Month profiles this year or last, please do me a favor: Stop what you're doing and send a note of appreciation to Dr. Claire C. Muselman. Her email address is cmuselman@workerscompensation.com

Thanks for doing that because, like so many initiatives WorkersCompensation.com has undertaken since our "rebrand" that started in 2022, Dr. Muselman is the force -- and the hands and feet -- behind our Women's History Month initiative. It's not an easy endeavor, but it's one that makes us (and especially me) proud because it brings to light the accomplishments, honors, and life stories of women who put so much of themselves into our industry. I've learned so much about so many people, and I never would have known any of it if Dr. Muselman didn't have the vision, time, and energy to make it happen.

But she did because that's who she is. She sees that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, and so she's a consummate uniter, bringing people together for better work, fuller ideas, and deeper connections. It's been personally and professionally healthy for me, and thanks to Dr. Muselman, I've gotten to know some great humans and have also gained some great writers for our site. It's a gift, and she shares it.

The Importance of Your Story

If you tuned into the inaugural episode of COMPassion, the Kind Souls podcast hosted by Shawn Deane, you heard where Dr. Muselman got her first taste of the workers' compensation system. As a teenager working at Tropical Smoothie, Dr. Muselman experienced a workplace injury. Illustrative of the way such injuries can disrupt what's important to us, Dr. Muselman was forced to bid adieu to a cherished pair of Old Navy shorts, which had become blood-soiled in the incident.

Anyone who has been or has parented an adolescent knows that a favorite article of clothing can be worth far more than the cost of replacement, but the episode illustrates something that Dr. Muselman teaches me on the regular: There are important steps that bring everyone to where they are and those parts of the story combine to make a person who they are, so if you really value empathy and you really want to know someone, listening to their story is the best investment you can make. You might find that your journey goes in a different direction because of how their story taught you something new, something you didn't know you needed.

And that's what I've seen Dr. Muselman do these past two years with Women's History Month. She's listened to stories and shared them, so that all of us might get to know people who can make the industry a little better and make our lives a little richer. That's the power of narrative, and if there's one thing you can take away from Dr. Muselman, it's that there's power in your story, and you shouldn't hesitate to share it if you feel like you should. It could be the best thing you do for someone else, and it could be the most important thing you do for yourself.

Thank you, Dr. Muselman

On a personal note, Dr. Muselman was one of my first contacts when I took over the role of coordinating content for WorkersCompensation.com. Straightaway, I noticed (how could you not?) that her writing was creative, positive (glitter and sparkles were mentioned in the first article from her I edited), and a balance of policy ideas and human considerations.

Over time, Dr. Muselman found a way, whether she meant to or not, to let me know that even in this role, as tangential as it is to the workers' compensation industry, my work mattered. She would praise my skills as a "boss," something I've never seen myself as, and seek my input on ideas she was pursuing. She's also always up for "geeking out" on whatever geek topic du jour I land on (Walter Mondale's Electoral College performance in '84, public records laws across the county, All the President's Men) because she's empathetic and cares about people in whole. That's how you make someone feel seen, and that's how you encourage them to put their heart into their work. And that's exactly the kind of person I always want on my team.

So, once again, thank you Dr. Muselman. You've made WorkersCompensation.com a better brand, a better place to work, and a better source of information. I can't wait to see what the future holds for your career and where your story goes -- there's so much waiting to be written and amazing, brilliant, and important things happen when you put pen to paper.

Ripples, indeed.

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