Dedication key focus for hospital lab manager

Posted 8/02/12 (Thu)

Dedication key focus for hospital lab manager

By ALLAN TINKER
The newly promoted laboratory manager at Turtle Lake Community Memorial Hospital considers herself very dedicated to her job, patients and the viability of the hospital. Sandi Helgeson has been with the hospital, working in the laboratory since 1989. Her 23 years moved her from lab tech, to general supervisor, to the current position as manager.
During this time she added to her associate’s degree in science, with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Cincinnati in laboratory science. The first degree was in class at NDSU-Bottineau; the second was online. Helgeson states that the online courses seemed much harder. “There is no one on one and questions do not get answered right away.” The online course took two and one-half years to complete.
Helgeson was born in Mauston, WI and moved to Kramer, ND when she was eight years old. Her parents Harry and Lorraine Belisle have owned and operated the bar and grill in the small town now for 30 years. She has one brother and one sister and is the “middle” child in the family.
Helgeson graduated from New-burg High School, where she first became interested in a medical career. She married her high school sweetheart Kevin, and they had two children together: Justin and Kayla.
Kevin is employed by Lynnes Masonry in Bottineau and travels to work.