Nominee: Brenna Lamm

Nominator: Michelle Smith

“Brenna provided exceptional effort on a project. She created many sets of duplicate fake donor profiles to help inexperienced staff get training on preventing the creation of duplicate donor files, which is important. She even wrote the quiz related to the donors she setup. This has been a huge help, and her quiz was very concise. It was above her normal tasks, and she did an excellent job. She also has been such a huge help covering shifts while we have been short staffed, going on blood drives, and working early or late here at the main center. She will do whatever tasks she can to help. She is also exceptionally good at her job and is conscientious and dedicated to doing the best she can. She is a wonderful employee.”

How long have you been working in Pathology?

I have been working since September 2024 as a student clerk.

What do you enjoy about working here?

I love the people that I work with. They are the best.

What made you decide to work in Pathology?

I am going to be a social worker, and I figure this would be a good step to getting experience in a professional environment.

What are some of your hobbies outside of work?

I love reading. That is mostly what I do when I finish my schoolwork. I also love hiking and painting with acrylics. 

What is your dream vacation?

I would like to go back to Italy. I went the summer after I graduated high school, and the coastal area were amazing. It was like heaven on Earth. 

What is your favorite movie?

My favorite movie is Fast and Furious 5.

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

I would still choose social work. I want to work with vulnerable kids whose parents are in and out of the prison system. I knew someone when I was younger who struggled with this situation, and I want to support kids like him. 

Nominee: Grace Wani

Nominator: An Pham

“The day before the holidays, when I was off and later sick, Grace really stepped up to handle a couple of fridge issues that came up. One fridge was having trouble with the relay, and the other was setting off constant alarms due to a temperature problem. Grace took charge of the situation right away. She turned off the faulty fridge to avoid any further problems and then worked on the second fridge to figure out why the temperature alarm kept going off. Thanks to her quick thinking and attention to detail, we were able to save all the reagents and samples without any issues. Her initiative and ability to handle the situation made a big difference, and we really appreciate her stepping in when it was most needed.” 

How long have you been working in Pathology?

I have worked here a total of 14 years. I previously worked from 2006-2008 as a phlebotomist then from 2012-2015 as a technician. Now, I have been here 9 years since 2016.

What do you enjoy about working here?

I love the job because I love helping people and caring for them.

What made you decide to become a lab professional?

I became a lab tech after my son was in the NICU for 3 months. What science can do made me want to contribute to it. 

What is your dream vacation?

I would like to visit South Africa, South America, and Asia.

What is your favorite movie?

The Color Purple and The Equalizer.

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

I wanted to be a nurse since I was a child, but, when I grew up, I decided to do animal production because I wanted to reduce hunger. If it were not for the money and how limited jobs are, I would love to do nursing and teaching.

Nominee: Erin Weyers

Nominator: An Pham

“Erin has been doing a great job getting the procedures for the Core lab into PolicyTech. She has taken the time to really learn how the program works and how to make it work best for the team.”

How long have you been working in Pathology?

It will be 8 years in July.

What do you enjoy about working here?

My coworkers. 

What made you decide to become a lab professional?

I was an architectural glass artist. I had to get back surgery and couldn’t continue the job, so I needed to look for a different career path. Glass work involves a lot of chemistry and it’s like you are doing an experiment each day. I was given support to so back to school and this career just made sense to me.  

What are some of your hobbies outside of work?

I enjoy gardening, cooking, art, and hanging out with my dog. 

What is your dream vacation?

I want to go to Europe. There are so many museums and galleries that are just free to go to that people don’t know about. I don’t want to just go and have the experience as an American tourist. I want to go and experience the culture of the region the same way a local would. 

What is your favorite movie?

Talladega Knights

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

I would be an elementary art teacher. The older you get the harder it is to see outside the box.  Small kids don’t see that box, so they can think outside of the box when it comes to art. They don’t know there are barriers, so they make the most amazing things.