Nominee: Michael Bunney

Nominated by: Shantelle

“Michael steps up and helps the team when needed. He is valued and appreciated by all of us in the lab, and he is very knowledgeable and resourceful when it comes to checking in patients as well.”

How long have you been working in Pathology?

I started as a phlebotomist at MCD in the summer of 2024, so only about a year and a half.

What do you enjoy about working here?

I enjoy having varied interactions with patients every day and especially love forming stronger relationships with patients I see more consistently.

What made you decide to become a lab professional?

I studied genetics in college and started my career as a lab technician at Integrated DNA Technologies. I always wanted to end up in the medical field because of my personal history with type 1 diabetes and epilepsy, so after a few years in a corporate DNA manufacturing-style lab, I grew tired of the "production" mindset and left to start in health care at a basic level where I could bring my lab skills and knowledge.

What are some of your hobbies outside of work?

I grew up playing tennis and have bowled competitively since college as well. Since I had a major surgery a year ago, I haven't been as active, so my fiancé and I have preferred to play video games and watch shows like How I Met Your Mother or Psych most recently.

What is your dream vacation?

The culture strongest in my family is Italian, but I grew up mostly separated from that side of my family, so I've always wanted to be able to travel across Italy and experience all the different regional traditions and cuisine.

What is your favorite movie?

I have a hard time choosing one because almost any movie with a great soundtrack wins me over, but I think I would have to choose Inception as a favorite.

If money was not a factor, what other profession would you choose?

I originally went to college to study physics so every once in a while I wonder what life would be like if I had chosen to finish following that path and become an astrophysicist.

Nominee: Juan Sanchez-Ramirez

Nominated by: Abdelrahman Barakat

"Juan started a free platform/question bank dedicated for new residents to familiarize themselves with Pathology."

How long have you been working in Pathology?

This is my fourth here year as a resident at Iowa, but I also completed 4 years of anatomic pathology in my home country, Costa Rica. 

What do you enjoy about working here?

It’s very nice here. You have that Midwest niceness and there is a collegial environment among residents. I also like the Iowa weather. Coming from a tropical country it is nice to experience the seasons. 

What made you decide to pursue Pathology?

I was originally interested in pursuing a more clinical career path, but I became more interested in diagnosing diseases as opposed to treating them. 

What are some of your hobbies outside of work?

I mostly spend time with my wife. We do a lot of home cooking and enjoy playing video games. I also have picked up classical guitar. 

What is your dream vacation?

My wife and I would like to visit Japan and southeast Asian at some point. 

What is your favorite movie?

The Grand Hotel Budapest

If money was not a factor, what other profession would you choose?

I don’t think I would be anything else honestly. The medical field just runs in the family.