Stories – MCL at Work

As a referral specialist who works at a client site, Alonda Snelling-Faulk enjoys being part of the connection between patients and their test results. And as part of her job, she’s eager to learn all she can about the tests and what they mean for the people Mayo Clinic Laboratories serves.

As a regulatory affairs coordinator in Quality Management Services, it’s Corrisa Miliander’s job to report diseases to each state across the country as required by law — a crucial role that supports public health agencies as they work to monitor and control outbreaks of communicable diseases.

As a technical publications specialist, Pat Staley ensures that health care providers and laboratorians have the clear, concise, accurate information about Mayo Clinic Laboratories’ tests that they need to guide patient care.

Dustin Strasburg’s role as a technical specialist in the Human Cell Therapy Lab gives him the opportunity to delve into a wide range of tasks — from research to experiment design to validation runs — all while staying laser-focused on meeting the needs of patients.

In her role as an education program manager, Heidi Zunker works to bring world-class digital education that’s rooted in Mayo Clinic expertise to thousands of people each year.

For the last year, Emily Fernholz’s time has been consumed by COVID-19. But as the pandemic has eased, she’s turned her attention back to the usual business of Mayo’s Clinical Virology/Parasitology Laboratory: testing for virus-, parasite-, and vector-borne diseases.

Shawn Mitchell brings a wealth of laboratory expertise to his role as a senior product manager at Mayo Clinic Laboratories, where he puts his knowledge to work promoting Mayo’s innovative infectious disease testing.

In her role as a laboratory technologist resource coordinator, Amy Nelson has to be prepared to handle whatever questions, concerns or issues come her way from Mayo Clinic Laboratories' clients. That ability to be ready for anything has served her well as her work has shifted and changed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last year, when Brian Netzel was redeployed from Mayo Clinic's Biochemical Genetics Lab to a lab testing for COVID-19, he put his skills to work wherever they were needed — alongside hundreds of other Mayo staff doing the same as they battled the pandemic together.

As a specialist in Mayo Clinic’s Office of Decedent Affairs, David Barta offers his knowledge and expertise to families after the death of a loved one, helping them deal with the logistics, while also answering questions and providing compassionate support.

As an experienced laboratory professional, Peter Wegwerth was well-suited to pivot from his work in Mayo Clinic's Biochemical Genetics Laboratory to redeployment in a COVID-19 testing lab when the pandemic hit in 2020.

Kae Essler’s behind-the-scenes role managing Mayo Clinic Laboratories’ Client Conversion team may not be highly visible, but her group’s work is crucial to ensuring an easy transition for clients and setting the stage for a productive collaboration going forward.

Angela Reese Davis supervises more than 300 staff members in Mayo Clinic Laboratories Specimen Operations. As COVID-19 has brought constant change to her area throughout the last year, Angela and her team have met every challenge with determination, teamwork and grace.