Lab Olympics – Celebrating Medical Laboratory Professionals Week 2024

 This year for Medical Laboratory Professionals Week we want to provide a spotlight on some of our incredible employees throughout the laboratory. 

 Dr. Rebecca Marks is one of our staff pathologists. She most recently stepped into the role of Acting Chief of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. Pathologists play an important role in cancer care by diagnosing cancer and precancerous lesions accurately, allowing for the best treatment. As to why she chose this career she said, “I had the opportunity to work with a pathologist before medical school...it was always a choice in my mind. I thought I'd be a pediatrician...but they had parents. :) Then I thought I'd be an oncologist, but too sad...so pathology allowed me to be a part of the cancer care team in the background...I have never regretted my choice.” Dr. Marks has worked here for 13 years and was even a part of the VA during rotations as a resident. When asked why she chose to work at the VA Medical Center, “I loved the opportunity to have a more private practice feel with also having the opportunity to work with residents...it has been a great fit for my family and me.” An interesting fact about Dr. Marks is she lived in Mexico in high school. 

 Tiarra Jackson is one of the Microbiologists in the VA Laboratory. She is a generalist in microbiology, but her favorite part of her career is problem solving and working at the bench completing cultures. She chose this career because she “…always enjoyed lab work and testing and assisting in the care of others.” She has worked at the VA for 3 years, one of which was as a student processor. She chose to keep working at the VA, and when asked why, she said: “I chose the VA for the people. I worked here as a student and enjoyed the learning environment. Everyone is willing to help you in your time of need.” Tiarra has played tennis for 10 years! 

 Jenny Benn is our one and only Pathologists’ Assistant (PA) and has worked at the VA for almost 9 years! Pathologists’ Assistants are highly trained, certified health professionals who assist the pathologists. She is a key component of delivering patient care by processing all surgical specimens as well as staging of complicated cancer cases. She chose this career because “I love what I do! It is different every single day even if I get the same types of specimens. Being good at my job, I am able to find things that could easily have been overlooked. What I do gives the pathologists the right answers to directly affect cancer staging and diagnoses.” When she moved to Indianapolis from Alabama to attend the PA program at IU Health, her rotations took her through the VA. When asked why she chose to work here, she said, “I rotated here as a student, and I already enjoyed the people I would be working with. I get to assist patients with their medical journeys in the background and at the VA, I also get to assist Veterans and that tops it!” A fun fact about Jenny is she fosters puppies for Far Fetched Dog Rescue! 

 Anthony Tursi is our Program Support Assistant and our go to for all things related to ordering supplies, but he also does much more to help keep the lab running smoothly. He sends and receives slides from other hospitals for consultations, acts a teleoperator for internal and external patients and providers that call into the lab, timekeeping, and ordering and purchasing. Anthony has worked here almost 8 years but was in the Air Force for 6 years. He said his favorite part of his job is the people he works and interacts with. He chose this career because, “I was looking for a position to continue my federal service since leaving the USAF. The lab sounded fun.” Anthony is the jack of all trades in the laboratory. He supports everyone in order for Veterans to receive the best care. When asked why he chose the VA for employment, he said, “I was receiving care here and realized this is where I wanted to try and make a difference.” A fun fact about Anthony is he previously ranked in the top 1% of online poker players worldwide and was invited to play in the World Series of Poker in Vegas. 

 Stephanie Moore is our Chemist in the Toxicology department. In this role, she performs multiple complex tests to determine the presence of medications and drugs in bodily fluids. She chose this career because she loves “…working with Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry. It challenges me every day with new learning opportunities. I get to use my analytical chemistry education to help patients and clinicians.” Her favorite part of her job is helping Veterans by explaining how to interpret their test results. She has worked here for 9 years, and she chose the VA because, “The VA offered me an opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the lives of Veterans and their families by providing essential healthcare. It is personally rewarding to serve those who have served our country and fought for our freedoms.” Stephanie is a twin! She also lives on a lake and enjoys boating and kayaking with her husband and two daughters.

 Tricia Starr is a Medical Technologist. Medical Technologists are highly trained and highly skilled scientists who performs tests to help providers diagnose and treat diseases. She chose this career because, “It was in a school offered by the Navy, and I wanted something that would relate to a civilian job once I was out of the service.” She has worked here for 14 years but has been in Federal Service for 30 years, with 6 years spent at the Orlando VA. She chose to work at the VA because “I wanted to continue spending time with and caring for my fellow Veterans.” She loves riding motorcycles in her spare time. 

 Rebecka Hemphill is also a Medical Technologist. She chose this career because she “…was a Medic and Lab Tech in the Army Reserves for 12 years. I like that we get to help patients behind the scenes. It feels good to know that the work we do in the lab can really make a difference in the overall care for our Veterans.” Rebecka has worked here for 8 years. When asked why she chose to work at the VA, she said, “I chose to work at the VA because I wanted to give back to fellow Veterans.” In her free time, she likes to volunteer with Wish For Our Heroes and other organizations. She also crafts, with her main medium as needle felting. You might even see her work at the State Fair this year! 

These employees represent how amazing all the Pathology and Laboratory employees are. We are thankful that we can use our positions to provide excellent care for Veterans and embody the ICARE values.