Deanna's Bio

I am excited about the 10,000 Families Study because I want all Minnesotans to live their healthiest lives possible!

I grew up in St. Cloud and have lived in Minnesota almost my entire life! 

For the 10,000 Families Study, my job is to plan and manage the laboratory part of the study.  In this role, I write instructions for others to follow when collecting lab samples.  I also make sure the study team has the supplies they need for sample collection. And finally, I manage the samples when they come to the lab to ensure the correct tests are run on the samples.   

I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Medical Laboratory Science from Minnesota State University, Mankato.  Before coming to the University of Minnesota, I worked many years in microbiology and chemistry labs at hospitals in the Twin Cities metro area.  These experiences prepared me for my work on the 10,000 Families Study by teaching me about how lab samples are collected, processed and finally tested in the lab.   

One fun fact about me is that I love hiking and biking with my family!