Tiffany Yu '10
Tiffany is a medical laboratory scientist and certified yoga instructor who graduated from the WSU Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in 2010 with a B.S. in Clinical Lab Science. She now works in the microbiology lab of Henry Ford Health System as a point of care manager, where she does everything from lab testing and working with patients to compliance and accreditation. About her current role, she says, "It's similar to managing plates - there are so many moving pieces."
During the pandemic, Tiffany acknowledges the determination of the microbiology team, who worked quickly and diligently to get COVID-19 testing set up at the TCF Center field hospital. The team was also a part of the conversion of spaces within Henry Ford Hospital to safe sites for COVID related illnesses, while simultaneously assisting the military in their response to the pandemic.
Tiffany's team has had to find new ways to manage their work along with their health and safety. They currently observe a schedule where each employee has a designated time in the office and scheduled time off. She goes in to the office for two weeks straight then works from home for four weeks, with two of those weeks being spent alone in quarantine. "I feel as though we all have a mission to do, especially in the healthcare field," says Tiffany about her experience working during and before the peak time of COVID-19 in Detroit.
After working a two-week shift, Tiffany spent two weeks quarantined from her husband and eight-month-old son. She turned to tools like FaceTime, yoga, journaling and taking walks to cope with the physical distance. She leaves us with this piece of advice, "You can fall through a hole or walk through a portal; either way you have to move forward. Don't allow the pressure to be crushing, but instead transformative."
We are proud that Tiffany Yu is a part of the WSU Alumni Family! She is WarriorStrong and her courageous efforts do not go unnoticed.
Warrior Impact highlights the compassion, hard work and unwavering determination of WSU alumni during the COVID-19 pandemic and the efforts of those who are taking a stand to end systemic racism and positively impact the continued fight for racial equality and justice. If you have a story you'd like to share about you or a fellow alum, submit your story here.