How long have you been in Biostatistics?
Surprisingly, one year and half already--times flies!
What areas/projects are you currently working on?
100% Cardiovascular surgery. The friendly surgeons even invited me to watch a couple of their heart surgeries "so I can understand the projects better"! It was a very special experience.
What do you like best about working in Biostatistics?
Education opportunities, cooperative environment, flexible work schedule, and the fact that those world-famous surgeons (who don't know statistics) think I am really smart! :D
What did you do before starting work at the clinic?
I was doing my master program in biostatistics in University of Utah. I taught some basic SAS courses and worked with a group of people on research about car crash accidents in Utah.
Tell us about your family:
I am the only child of my family. My mom always hopes to achieve something great in her life but didn't have the opportunity. Now she thinks the burden is on my shoulders--that is why she sent me to continue my education in USA and then work in Mayo. She is very proud of me but I don't know whether she sometimes regrets insisting that I come to USA because she can only see me once a year now.
What are your hobbies/interests?
Life time hobbies/interests: snacking, shopping, karaoke singing, ballroom dancing, traveling, camping, exploring new life style
Periodic hobbies/interests (the ones that switch back and forth between being my interests and my headaches ^_^): piano, yoga, work
Tell us something interesting about yourself that might surprise people:
I always wanted to be one of the tour guides, those who travel around the world, taste all type of weird but delicious food and learn about cultures that are different from their own. I went to school in South Dakota for one year and half. The natural sceneries are very beautiful and my classes were easy. So I was able to videotape some places I traveled and later on put all the episodes together with music and monologue added. I turned it into my own little TV program talking about South Dakota. A long time after that, the first thing I did when a friend came to visit me was to force them to watch my "TV program":) I still dream of making a TV program recording my world traveling experience and feelings about different cultures. I hope I will be able to do this after I retire with tons of money! :)
What is your favorite vacation/childhood memory?
I am a happy person and have lots of happy memories. The time I like best is my college years, because that was when I first started to live with other same aged girls and get to know what other people think and what their life is like. It also allowed me to make some of my own decisions--I didn't have to tell my mom who I went out with and when I would come home:)
Tell us about a funny/embarrassing moment on the job:
My mentor David Hodge went to most of my meetings with me during the first half year after I started to work here. Once we were coming out of St Mary's hospital with me leading the way. I was a little absent-minded and thought the door was the kind that opens automatically when sensing people coming. So I approached it slowly and then (since it didn't open) stopped in front of it waiting for it to "see" me. Dave was such a gentleman, he must have thought that I was waiting for somebody to open the door, so he stepped up (from behind me) and opened the door for me. I thought I was rude and was so embarrassed at that moment. But I guess he didn't even notice that I didn't mean to act like that :D
