Nominee: Jennifer Elwood
Nominated by: Josh McHenry
“On July 1st, Jennifer noticed that we had not received our most recent reagent order from Siemens. She troubleshooted the issue with our supply chain manager and discovered that the POs were being sent to the wrong location and Siemens had not received our order. After working with supply chain to correct that issue, Jennifer did a quick inventory and realized that we were going to run out of ALT reagent before our order would come in. She took it upon herself to find a solution and drove to the hospital in Waterloo after her shift to borrow reagent from them and then drive it back to the MCD lab. Because of Jennifer's actions, there were no gaps or delays in patient testing. Jennifer is always willing to do what is best for our patients and her coworkers, and this was just an amplified example of her everyday behavior. We are lucky to have her at MCD!”
How long have you been working in pathology?
Just over one year.
What do you enjoy about working here?
The friendly staff and the camaraderie in the lab.
What made you decide to become a lab professional?
I love the connection between laboratory science and healthcare to make a difference in a patient's care.
What are some of your hobbies outside of work?
Cooking, traveling, and gardening.
What is your dream vacation?
Thailand
What is your favorite movie?
The Shawshank Redemption
If money was not a factor, what other profession would you choose?
Professional traveler
Nominee: Emily Newcomb
Nominated by: Josh McHenry
“Emily did an outstanding job successfully completing the validation of our new urinalysis analyzer while simultaneously managing an unexpected validation for the replacement sedimentation rate analyzer. Despite taking on these additional responsibilities, she continued to spend the majority of her time covering the bench and supporting patient testing operations. Emily's dedication, flexibility, and strong work ethic make her an invaluable asset to the Downtown team.”
How long have you been working in the Department of Pathology?
Since July 2025.
What do you enjoy about working here?
My coworkers are awesome. We work really well together as a team.
What made you decide to become a lab professional?
I've always liked the idea of working in a hospital/clinic setting. I was fascinated to find out about the lab and that patient care doesn't just involve doctors and nurses. You never really think about all of the things that happen behind the scenes and how important those roles are.
What are some of your hobbies outside of work?
I enjoy reading, crocheting, and painting.
What is your dream vacation?
My dream vacation would be visiting Ireland.
What is your favorite movie?
My favorite movie is Star Wars Revenge of the Sith.
If money was not a factor, what other profession would you choose?
I would work at a museum or park to teach people about early American history.