What is your role at UPHS – Portage? 
I am the Lead Chemistry Technologist in the Laboratory Unit at UP Health System – Portage.

What was your inspiration for getting into healthcare?
As a child, I saw my fair share of healthcare professionals and I've always had a lot of respect for them. Throughout my college years, I realized I wanted to help people too, while still staying behind the scenes — the lab is a great place to be able to do that.

What's a typical day like for you?
I feel like every day is a little different. I usually start each day by going through morning quality control and reports of patient results. We evaluate every result that comes out of our lab, package samples that need to be sent out and keep the analyzers running in tip-top shape.

How long have you been employed here?  
I have worked at UPHS – Portage for one year and eight months. I started as a med tech working nights and moved up to the lead chemistry tech last December.  

What are some of the big changes you have experienced in this position?
My biggest change was moving from a night tech to a lead tech. There is so much more that goes into this position than I ever realized. I feel like I am still learning a lot, but it is very rewarding.

What are some of your interests outside of work? Where is your favorite local gem?
Outside of work, I like to camp throughout the summer and spend time snowmobiling on the local trails during the winter.  

What do you enjoy most about working at UPHS – Portage?
I love the people that I work with — I've been employed in a few different hospitals and the welcoming atmosphere at UPHS – Portage is by far the best!