Since you were named an ASCP Forty Under 40, how does your career look different now vs then? What new opportunities have come your way? What additional credentials, or new hard or soft skills have you gained?

Since being named an ASCP Forty Under 40, my role in Laboratory Medicine has significantly expanded. I am grateful for the more than 10 years I spent as a bench scientist and then the directorship of a university-based MLS program at the time of my 40/40 selection. A few years later, I transitioned to a new organization to direct a hospital-based Medical Laboratory Science program and manage staff development for laboratories across four local hospitals for Providence Health & Services. My responsibilities have continued to grow, now encompassing a two-state region with eight hospital labs and a robust outpatient lab network.

In addition to directing the MLS program, I have introduced a new phlebotomy training program, advanced medical lab assistant training, and expanded laboratory training to include non-laboratory caregivers, residents, and fellows. Alongside my role in current staff development, I have also taken on community and workforce development to support laboratory recruitment and retention efforts

Looking back, I could not have predicted the trajectory my career would take. From reading Gram stains and pulling positive blood cultures to standardizing training practices and determining best practices for laboratory employee education, recruitment, and retention, my journey has been both surprising and incredibly rewarding. It has certainly been a far cry from the early days and a great adventure.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned in the years since being named 40/40?

Since being named as a 40/40, I’ve learned the lesson of gratitude and service. It’s truly a blessing to reflect on the mentors who have significantly shaped our careers. I, too, have been fortunate to have many guiding lights, including my former medical director, Dr. Harvey Schiller. He was the one who first encouraged me to apply for the ASCP Forty Under 40. Such encouragement and support have been pivotal as I’ve transitioned into new roles and responsibilities.

The mentorship and investment in the next generation of laboratorians are critical for the continued prosperity of our field. Often, in our dedication to the tasks at hand, we can become so engrossed in our work that we overlook the importance of building connections and fostering growth among our newer colleagues. But it’s crucial to remember that our successes are not achieved in isolation.

For those of us who have established ourselves and are progressing in our careers, it’s now our turn to pay it forward. We need to mentor and invest in the rising professionals who are just beginning their journeys. By doing so, we ensure the continued flourishing of our field and honor the support that helped us reach where we are today.

Of what are you most professionally proud in the years since your 40/40 recognition?

Reflecting on my career, I am most proud of the number of people I have been able to serve, whether it was the thousands of patients I cared for as a bench scientist or the hundreds I’ve helped to educate as the director of Laboratory Medicine Education programs. I take immense pride in the contributions our graduates have made to the field of Laboratory Medicine.

Since I began in my current directorship 6.5 years ago, we have nearly doubled the number of MLS students, consistently graduating between 18 and 22 students annually. This achievement is unprecedented for a program like ours. Additionally, I am proud of the community and workforce development facilitated by our Phlebotomy Training Program. This earn-to-learn training offers underserved community members the opportunity to embark on a healthcare career through a paid internship, without the need for advanced education.

Our guiding principle, the Providence Promise— "Know Me, Care for Me, Ease My Way"— underpins all our efforts and serves as a daily reminder of our commitment to our patients and communities. Through this promise, we are constantly reminded of our purpose and the impact we have on those we serve.