'Are you the Key Master?' An interview with UC Davis Health’s Locksmith

There’s a saying that, paraphrasing, claims one should befriend the person who holds all the keys – the physical keys – because they can get you into anywhere you want to go.

Insert Stephen Sanchez.

In 2020, UC Davis Health hired Sanchez as a temporary, contracted employee. Little did he or the organization know that Sanchez would become UC Davis Health’s full-time “Master of Keys.”

“I was hired as a Temporary Employee (TES) during the pandemic in 2020 with a six-month contract. When a carpenter position became available, I transitioned into a full-time role in the carpenter department, where I learned about doors and locks on the job. Rather than just passing along any lock or door issues, I wanted to know how to fix them,” Sanchez said.

Two years went by, and the locksmith at the time left the role. Sanchez applied for and earned the role.

Officially, he is UC Davis Health’s locksmith, but you might also call him the Master of Keys, the key player, or the first line of security. Regardless, Sanchez is your guy whenever a door needs attention, inside or out.

Puns aside, Sanchez takes his role seriously.

“I take pride in managing all aspects of locks and keys, ensuring the security of our medical center through the use of electrified doors, including ADA-compliant push doors and sliding entries,” Sanchez explained. “I collaborate closely with our auxiliary services and security teams to uphold a safe environment for everyone within our facility.”

And it’s not nearly as simple as just making new keys.

Sanchez’s job includes lock installations, working with construction crews on hardware specifications, and constant learning. For every type of lock on campus, Sanchez has a certificate on his wall to prove his knowledge. Additionally, he's actively phasing out outdated keys and keyways – some dating back to the 1980s - with more secure equipment.

In fact, he’s developed his own!

“Thanks to the support of my leadership, we’ve introduced our own patented keyway - we own it - specifically for the medical center and surrounding buildings, ensuring that our keys are unique and cannot be duplicated at kiosks or by other locksmiths,” Sanchez said. “The 48x and Folsom FMOB buildings are leading the way as the first to adopt this innovative keyway, as we work diligently to rekey the campus and back security.”

Sanchez said keys are the most requested item at UC Davis Health, to the tune of 1,000 per month, so his role as the single locksmith for dozens of facilities and an organization with 20,000 employees certainly keeps him on his toes. When asked how many keys he makes each day, he guessed it's "probably about 150 a day."

One thing is clear: This locksmith has indeed unlocked the key to a fascinating career!