First job? Stock boy at Kmart in Faribault. I remember showing up for work my first day in white pants and a shirt and tie and there was a dumpster fire that I got to clean up in my white pants and shirt and tie on Day One. I learned that when you’re the low man on the totem pole, you do whatever’s asked of you. And I think when you’re higher up the totem pole, you should still do whatever’s asked of you.
Free time? I like to play golf, go the gym, hang out with friends and family. I have a small herd of miniature schnauzers that I spend a lot of time taking care of. (I currently have four; I gave the fifth one to my daughter.)
Best part of your work? When you can take care of the entire family, multiple generations at all ages. It’s a great way to give really well-rounded care.
Best advice? Help people whenever and wherever you can because at some point, you’ll need help too. There’s a quote I like too: “Don’t hold onto a mistake just because you spent a long time making it.”
Why healthcare? I was a chemistry/biology major at the U when I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 18. I went from never being sick a day in my life to being really sick, losing my eyesight, dropping a lot of weight. I had a lot of interactions with doctors and nurses as I got the disease under control, and I realized that doing what they did was much more appealing than pursuing a career in a research lab. My grandmother taught nursing until she was 84 years old, so I had a sense of medicine as a career option early on.
If not healthcare, what else? Probably something in bio-medical research. Though I have a hard time imagining doing anything else.