Everyday Heroes: Dagmar
Dagmar Morales-Jacola
Director, Laboratory Services, St. Francis Hospital, Columbus, GA
“My inspiration and mentor was my aunt who molded me into the professional I am today”
What is your favorite part of your job?
I love the people that I work with during all these years, and I am most happy to be able to impact the outcome of people’s health. I have worked with excellent professionals who have inspired me, taught me, helped me grow, and became my friends. I have had the opportunity to do the same for so many of my team members.
Why did you decide to go into Medical Laboratory Science?
I always wanted to help others and being a Medical Technologist has allowed me to work behind the scenes and contribute to the health and well-being of our patients.
Any comments on workflow experiences/personal challenges during COVID-19?
The workflow has been cumbersome and challenging. We needed to use several different reference laboratories and tracking all of this took a lot of time and many resources. We started testing for COVID-19 in-house on Thursday, April 16th and we foresee an easier workflow, moving forward.
It has shown me how many good and professional people we have here at St. Francis. My team has been extremely flexible with their time and duties, resilient, and has had great, positive attitudes. This crisis has made the rest of the hospital realizehow important the laboratory is and how great our phlebotomists and techs are.
Feel free to add anything else you want to say as the stage is all yours!
I’ve been a Medical Technologist for 28 years. I started in a private clinical laboratory in Puerto Rico. My inspiration and mentor was my aunt, who molded me in the professional I am today. I’ve been in my current position for less than 2 years. I have been able to build an outstanding team, and we are very proud of that accomplishment.
I really like what I do. My husband is a MT too, so we can talk “Lab” at home, and he understands it. I love working the bench, and my techs get surprised when they see the Lab Director doing differentials or drawing patients.