ASCLS - Idaho
Focus
I am currently working at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center as a swing shift medical technologist. I have been working there for the past 7 years, six of which I spent on the graveyards in hematology. I work under Keila Poulson, which is a great experience. She is a really great teacher and you learn something new every day from her.
I graduated from Idaho State University with a bachelors degree in microbiology in 1996. I decided to go through the medical technology program at that time because in one of my micro classes we toured a laboratory and I really liked that aspect of micro the most. in 1997, I did my internship at Bannock Regional Medical Center in Pocatello. At that time Bannock offered a free student membership through ASCLS so I also became a member. I graduated again with a bachelors in medical technology and passed my ASCP exam. I was fortunate enough to get a job at Bannock and spent the next five years there, first as a generalist and then I moved into a day shift in Hematology. I retained my membership with ASCLS during those years.
In 2000, I was really tired of commuting (I lived in Idaho Falls and worked in Pocatello), so I took a job at a doctor's office/reference lab-Teton Clinical Labs in Idaho Falls. At that point in time, I decided it would be a good idea to become more involved with the society, mainly for networking reasons. I was elected to the nominations and elections chair in 2000-2001. Also in 2001, I went back to work every other weekend at Bannock. I worked at Teton for two years. I also served as secretary of IDSCLS in 2001-2002, and was Key to the Future that year. Also in 2002, I applied for a job at EIRMC and was accepted.
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