Lab scientist celebrates 55 years on the job

Lab scientist celebrates 55 years on the job

Almost no one expects to work for one organization for their entire career, and that includes Linda Servais. But when you love what you do, there's no reason to leave, which is why the medical lab scientist is still at Emplify Health by Gundersen - 55 years later.

Servais celebrated five-and-a-half decades of work - in the same department - in March.

"I feel it's so interesting, and I enjoy it," she says. "It's a big plus if you enjoy your job, and I still do."

Servais, of Viroqua, originally wanted to be a veterinarian, but her parents didn't want her to go to Milwaukee to school, so instead, she came to Western Technical College in La Crosse. She started work at Emplify Health by Gundersen right after graduation, then took more night classes at the school, as well as classes at work.

"It just got more fun and enjoyable," she says.

She started in the lab and has never left her chosen department. But just because she's stayed in the same role doesn't mean the job hasn't changed. Aside from the move from the clinic side of the building to the hospital, technology has changed how she performs her duties. Years ago, pencil and paper played a bigger part in her day, though that's now given way to computers to store test results.

Servais used to draw blood and other bodily fluids and do the testing, but now it's mostly just testing. She's okay with that, though.

"It's so interesting all the time," she says. "Just about every week, you learn something new. I learned something new today, just the different patients that come in and the challenge to get the right stuff done. It's just enjoyable. I've always enjoyed it."

Chelsea Slagle, the lab's clinical manager, says what a person like Servais brings to the team, with her years of experience, is invaluable.

"I think it's amazing," Slagle says of Servais' longevity. "Linda just brings a wealth of knowledge, and she's the heart of our lab. She brings us calm."

Even through some difficult times in the department, Servais has been steadfast in her work, Slagle says, and supportive to everyone around her - always willing to lend an ear.

"I couldn't have asked for a better employee," she says.

And Slagle doesn't take her for granted.

"The lab is a really important area that I think gets forgotten about sometimes," she says. "It's the basis of a majority of the diagnosing of patients, so having someone like Linda here is immensely helpful, to have that knowledge to make sure that results are accurate and on time."

Accuracy is important, and even after 55 years, Servais hasn't become complacent. She still loves searching for what she's looking for under the microscope.

"I like to go looking for difficult things and finding the different elements under the scope," she says. "People know that about me, that I love to do that."

And Servais loves all her co-workers - many of whom who've come and gone during her tenure, and many of whom who've remained close friends. But does she plan on going anywhere? Don't count on it. She admits that she'd like to retire at some point but admits further that her hobbies don't pay for themselves.

"I have animals that are kind of expensive to take care of, and I also like to travel a lot," she says. "But I enjoy the people I work with, so that's a big plus."