Michele Cassen
Tucson
Summary
To best utilize my knowledge, skills and abilities in assisting the Clinical and Reference Microbiology departments in the capacity that aligns with the best practices of the Infectious Diseases Department’s Medical Directors. To assist in the research, support and applicability of advanced technology, including their: validation, implementation and completion procedures. To serve as a conduit between our business partners, medical practitioners, technical staff, directors and fellow technical specialists.
Overview
36
36
years of professional experience
Work History
Technical Supervisor
Sonora-Quest Laboratories of Tucson
Tucson, Arizona
10.2008 - Current
- - Supervise Full time, Part time and Per Diem Medical Laboratory Technologists and full time Clinical laboratory assistants that support the department’s three shifts
- - Prepare and maintain Microbiology department’s distinction of College of American Pathologists accreditation
- - Advise, train, coach and counsel when necessary Microbiology employees on laboratory procedures, techniques, data entry, customer service and safety
- - Review, prepare and deliver employee’s annual performance review
- - Maintain records on patient testing, employee training and competency, inventory of laboratory equipment and supplies
- - Review and maintain quality control of reagents, media, equipment, and techniques
- - Perform monthly inventory for Finance and regulate orders to assure that department is stocked efficiently
- - Prepare monthly Quality Assurance report that document: Blood culture contamination rates, Culture turnaround time, Sputum rejection, Affirm testing turnaround time and infection surveillance, Corrected Reports, and overall Quality control performance that note changes and deviations
- - Communicate and work with Medical Director, Microbiology Medical Director and departments’ Technical specialists on a regular basis
- - Communicate with our Internal Customers: Sales, Account Representatives, Patient service representatives on providing guidance and practical solutions to our External customer
- - Communicate with our External Customers: Our communities Physicians and Medical Representatives that require assistance, advice and providing immediate solutions to their concerns
- - Read and interpret bacterial cultures and provide accurate reporting
- - Perform daily audit of laboratory reporting
- - Assist laboratory safety officer with laboratory audits when necessary, provide safe environment for department’s employees; assure that chemical hygiene program is maintained
- - Actively participate in the good and welfare of our staff by creating celebrations as in Lab Week, recognizing the employee’s personal achievements and life events
Technical Coordinator (Level VI)
Sonora-Quest Laboratories of Tucson
Tucson, Arizona
09.2000 - 08.2008
- - Assist Microbiology Supervisor by overseeing full-time and per diem Medical technologists and clinical laboratory assistants
- - Prepare and maintain Microbiology department’s distinction of College of American Pathologists accreditation
- - Train and orient new Microbiology employees on laboratory procedures, techniques, data entry, customer service and safety
- - Maintain records on patient testing, employee training, and inventory of laboratory equipment and supplies
- - Review and maintain quality control of reagents, media, equipment, and techniques
- - Communicate with immediate supervisor, managers, and professional peers on laboratory progress, new procedures, policies, safety hazards, client inquiries and issues
- - Read and interpret bacterial cultures and provide accurate reporting
- - Perform daily audit of laboratory reporting
- - Assist laboratory safety officer with laboratory audits and emergency response program
Adjunct Faculty in Microbiology
Pima Community College – West Campus
Tucson, Arizona
01.2005 - 05.2006
- - Instructed an integrated lab and lecture course for Biology 205 - Microbiology
- - Provided students with lectures, quizzes, and exams
- - Assisted students with laboratory experiments
- - Adhered to laboratory policies, guidelines, and instructions as recommended by department
- - Upheld responsibilities of scholastic ethic codes
Microbiology Technologist
Northwest Medical Center
Tucson, Arizona
08.1995 - 09.2000
- - Read and interpreted cultures for bacterial, fungal, and acid-fast bacilli cultures on patients from both El Dorado Hospital and Northwest Hospital
- - Provided timely and accurate reports to physicians, infection control and medical staff over Medi-tek information system
- - Trained University of Arizona Medical Technology students during microbiology rotations
- - Assisted in preparing department for CAP (College of American Pathologists) inspection by developing well documented quality control and assurance, maintenance of record inventory, and safe work environment organization
Microbiology Technician
Allied Clinical Laboratories – Reference Laboratory
Tucson, Arizona
11.1992 - 08.1995
- - Read and interpreted bacterial and fungal cultures for both human and veterinary patient specimens
- - Provided timely and accurate reports in Antrim system
- - Performed daily, weekly, and monthly quality control on media, stains and reagents
- - Maintained and performed tasks necessary for both the Autoscan and Bactec blood culture system
Clinical Laboratory Assistant – Microbiology Department
University Medical Center – Department of Pathology (now Banner University Medical Center Campbell campus)
Tucson, Arizona
06.1990 - 11.1992
- - Process hospital patient specimens for culture in Sunquest (now Misys) data system
- - Prepared specialty media, reagents, and stains for in-lab usage
- - Screened blood culture plates for potential pathogens
- - Performed quality control on reagents and media
- - Responsible for reading stat cerebral spinal fluid Gram stains for emergency department on evening shift
Education
A.S.C.P. (M) -
College of American Pathology
Carol Stream, Illinois06-2000
BS - Microbiology and Immunology
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona12-1998
Skills
- Customer support
- Hardware troubleshooting
- Schedule management
- Business analysis
Affiliations
- American Society for Clinical Pathology – Microbiology Associate
- American Society of Microbiology – Microbiology Associate
Timeline
Technical Supervisor
Sonora-Quest Laboratories of Tucson
10.2008 - Current
Adjunct Faculty in Microbiology
Pima Community College – West Campus
01.2005 - 05.2006
Technical Coordinator (Level VI)
Sonora-Quest Laboratories of Tucson
09.2000 - 08.2008
Microbiology Technologist
Northwest Medical Center
08.1995 - 09.2000
Microbiology Technician
Allied Clinical Laboratories – Reference Laboratory
11.1992 - 08.1995
Clinical Laboratory Assistant – Microbiology Department
University Medical Center – Department of Pathology (now Banner University Medical Center Campbell campus)
06.1990 - 11.1992
BS - Microbiology and Immunology
University of Arizona
A.S.C.P. (M) -
College of American Pathology