• Deb Beck, Customer Care Assistant
• Lacey Stevens, Oncology Nurse Navigator
• Emily Elliott, Surgical Technologist
• Susanah Friesen, Cancer Program Massage Therapist
• Klinton Laschanzky, Nutrition and Dining Services Technician
• Anthony Eickmeier, RN
• Cindy Schroeder, Cardiovascular Sonographer
• AJ Freburg, Laboratory Courier
• Caroline Madison, Patient Registrar
• Kari Jones, RN
• Olivia Oerman, RN

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Deb Beck, Customer Care Assistant

As a Bryan Medical Center customer care assistant, Deb Beck meets new people every day. Patients, families and visitors stop by the information desk for directions, answers and often a bit of conversation. She stands out with her warm smile and bright red pepper badge reel clipped to her signature Bryan Blue blazer.

The ensemble represents her passion for two things – Bryan Health and salsa.

Continuing a Legacy

Her salsa recipe traces back generations. Deb grew up making salsa, among other classic Mexican dishes, alongside her grandmother, who was from Chihuahua, Mexico. To continue her grandma’s legacy after her passing, Deb continued to make that fresh salsa, which quickly became a favorite among family and friends.

“I would just always hand it out to people,” she said. “They kept saying, ‘Why don’t you sell this at the Haymarket Farmers Market downtown?”

She wasn’t quite sure where to begin. Then in 2004, her mom spotted a newspaper article about an upcoming seminar for entrepreneurs hosted by the Food Processing Center at University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL).

It felt like fate.

Deb signed up and stayed after class to explain her idea. From there, the center helped her navigate everything from testing and labeling to meeting state regulations. From there, Deb started her farmers market journey – all while working full-time at a grocery store.

Building a Business

In those early days, the operation was small but persistent.

Once a week, she and her sister would take over their church basement kitchen, making and canning over 70 jars of fresh salsa at a time. They’d sell out at the Saturday farmers market every time.

“We’d go to the church at 4 p.m. after work, and we’d be there until midnight,” Deb recalled. “We just kept plugging away. Finally, I asked the university, ‘Can we get help?’ Because we just couldn’t make enough of it.”

With continued guidance from UNL’s Food Processing Center, Deb and her sister connected with insurance lawyers, obtained UPC codes, registered trademarks and secured a manufacturer who didn’t compromise their grandmother’s homemade recipe.

What started as a homemade gift gradually grew into a thriving business. Deb’s salsas – and now her hot sauces – can be found in grocery stores throughout Nebraska, Kansas and Iowa.

Finding a Balance

Despite its success, Deb never wanted the business to be her full-time job.

She left her job at Hy-Vee in 2006 and took on a job at the outpatient pharmacy and gift shop located inside the hospital at Bryan East Campus. Even as the salsa business expanded, she stayed committed to her work at the hospital.

“I like to be busy,” she said.

When the pharmacy closed in 2010, she moved into her current role as customer care assistant for Bryan Medical Center. She finally decided to take on shorter shifts to allow more time for her business – but she never considered leaving the hospital entirely.

For her, Bryan is more than a workplace.

“I like the way Bryan treats their employees. You can really tell they care,” she said.

One way she’s felt that is through the flexibility of her position. Every Monday through Friday, Deb works the information desk at either Bryan East or West Campus, 5-11 a.m., greeting guests and helping them find their way. After her shift, she heads out to check the shelves at stores around Lincoln to make sure her salsa is stocked. At least once a month, those trips stretch even farther, traveling to Omaha, Iowa and as far west as Kearney.

Though she’s not a fan of all the driving, it gives her something she loves: the chance to connect with people.

That same love for conversation is on full display at the hospital.

“Her customer service is outstanding. She always puts our guests first,” her leader Sarah Carter, Volunteers and Customer Care director, said. “She creates an inclusive environment, making guests feel welcomed and appreciated. She genuinely cares about people.”

For Deb, those daily interactions are what make the job special.

“This is my happy place away from business,” she said. “I always look forward to coming to work. There’s so many different varieties of people, and every conversation is unique.”

Making Connections

Deb can strike up a conversation with anyone about almost anything. That spirit of curiosity and conversation has led to some surprising connections.

While working at the outpatient pharmacy, a customer asked about the salsa being sold. He was delighted to discover the woman ringing up his purchase was also its creator. Next thing she knew, he was offering to be her business partner.

That customer was the late Everett Evnen, a well-known Lincoln businessman who also happened to be a Bryan board member.

“I thought he was joking,” Deb recalled fondly. “But then he came back one day, and said, ‘No, I’m serious.’”

Everett became both a mentor and a business partner, helping Deb connect with people and explore new opportunities. “He was like a grandfather to me,” she said.

And even now, many of Deb’s ideas still start with simple conversations.

One Bryan employee asked Deb if she ever tried making a salsa verde. Today, he – along with several other co-workers – has gotten to enjoy many variations of the recipe as she continues to perfect it and bring it in to share.

At the end of the day, Deb says both of her jobs share the same purpose: adding a little extra joy to brighten someone’s day.

“She wants to do the best that she can in both jobs,” Sarah said. “I admire her tenacity. No matter how far she travels the day before or how late she’s up doing paperwork, she’s always here at five in the morning – always with a smile.”

For Deb, the motivation is simple: it’s the people. And as long as the woman in the Bryan blue blazer with that red pepper badge reel is behind the desk, guests know they’ll be greeted with a warm welcome and a glimpse of the passions she carries with her each day: Bryan Health and a love of salsa.

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Lacey Stevens, Oncology Nurse Navigator

On a chilly December morning, a cancer patient in rural southeast Nebraska avoided hours of travel, added expenses and unnecessary stress – all thanks to a single phone call.

The call came from oncology nurse navigator Lacey Stevens, who coordinated with the patient’s doctors in Lincoln to arrange testing locally at Crete Medical Clinic.

“I called the office in Lincoln and said, ‘We can do that here,’” Lacey said. “The patient would rather have it done here, instead of driving there, having it done, coming home, and then going back again for another appointment later. They said, ‘Oh great!’ And they sent me the orders.”

Filling a Gap for Rural Patients

Moments like this are a routine part of Lacey’s role at Crete, Friend and Wilber Medical Clinics, but she knows how important they are to her patients. Keeping care close to home can mean everything for patients already carrying the physical, emotional and financial weight of a cancer diagnosis.

“I feel really strongly that our patients should be getting care here,” Lacey said. “It relieves some of that stress and financial burden. Driving to Lincoln gets expensive. When you don’t feel good, having to get up, get ready, drive and probably buy a meal – it all adds up. Fatigue is such a huge side effect for our patients, and this really helps.”

That philosophy is exactly why Lacey’s position exists. After seeing the challenges faced by a loved one undergoing cancer treatment, a family member of a Crete Area Medical Center (CAMC) patient made a generous donation to create a role dedicated to keeping cancer care as local as possible.

The position was also designed to bridge a critical gap – connecting patients’ oncology teams with their primary care providers, so patients are supported not just during treatment, but long after it ends.

That’s what makes Lacey’s role unique. She helps patients understand treatment plans, access financial assistance and coordinate appointments. At the same time, she ensures they stay up to date on primary care visits and recommended screenings throughout survivorship.

“She’s kind of the hub,” her leader Steph Hollman, clinical operations director, said. “She makes sure all the pieces stay connected.”

An Unexpected Path

Although Lacey thrives in the role today, it wasn’t where she originally pictured herself. When she started nursing school at Bryan College of Health Sciences, her dream was to work in the NICU.

“But God had other plans,” she said.

After working in several nursing departments at hospitals in Omaha, Kearney and Lincoln, Lacey eventually found her way back to Bryan Health at CAMC – a return that felt surprisingly right.

“I didn’t see it coming,” she said, “but I couldn’t ask for anything better. I’m really happy to be back at Bryan.”

The role fits her life as well as her passion. The flexible, part-time schedule allows Lacey to homeschool her four sons while continuing to pour her energy into caring for others.

“I never thought I’d find a nursing job like this,” she said. “I’m happy, and I still feel like I’m truly contributing to my patients’ lives. The care here at CAMC is fantastic. I’m constantly impressed by how attentive the doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants are. They really listen and pay attention to what our patients need.”

Dedicated to Patient Care

Lacey is a key part of the quality care Bryan Health strives to provide. Even on a part-time schedule, she manages hundreds of reminders, appointments and follow-ups with compassion and intention. She advocates for patients and guides them through the overwhelming world of cancer care.

“She is absolutely, wholeheartedly in it for the patients,” Steph said. “She truly lives out the vision of keeping care local whenever possible.”

For Lacey, that mission is deeply personal. She understands how overwhelming a cancer diagnosis can be, especially in the early days, and she does everything she can to lighten the load.

“In the beginning, I tend to be very hands-on,” she said. “I can tell when patients are struggling. I’ll reach out, make those initial appointments and get everything set up. I tell them, ‘Here’s where you need to be. Here’s what you need to do. There’s nothing else for you to worry about – it’s taken care of.’”

For her patients, that reassurance – and that phone call – can make all the difference.

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Emily Elliott, Surgical Technologist

Nearly 12 years ago, Emily Elliott walked through the doors of Kearney Regional Medical Center (KRMC) for an interview to join the new growing local hospital. It wasn’t to wear scrubs and prep surgical trays, however. She took up the post behind the café counter, brewing coffee and assembling sandwiches.

Today, Emily works in the operating rooms as a certified surgical technologist – the path to which has been anything but linear.

A Passion for Personal Growth

Though her first official role was as a barista, it wasn’t long before her culinary talents came to light. She began catering for doctors, board meetings and special events. She also found herself taking food trays to patients more and more often. She discovered she loved interacting with patients, so when her newfound med-surg manager friend asked her to apply for a secretary job in a new unit, Emily happily agreed.

Once on the unit, many of Emily’s colleagues asked her if she’d ever considered getting her CNA license. A month into her role as secretary, she began attending school Monday through Thursday to become a CNA and working Friday through Sunday at the hospital.

So naturally, with CNA license in hand, she decided to continue her training, getting certified in telemetry. For over four years she monitored heart rhythms as an overnight telemetry tech at KRMC. But her passion for learning drove her to pursue something more.

A New Chapter in the Operating Room

At the age of 40, Emily decided to go back to school to be a surgical tech. Not long after she was accepted into the surgical tech program at Southeast Community College, Bryan Health began its own surgical tech pathways program, which not only puts individuals through the schooling they need, but gets them hands-on experience right away. Emily jumped at the opportunity.

“That’s the best part about the program,” Emily said. “Because while everybody else is learning by clicking slides and getting clinical maybe one or two times a week, we’re here engulfing our students in the job Monday through Friday.”

Emily began working in her current position as surgical tech in December 2023 through the pathways program. She graduated from the program in December 2024 and already has her sights set on her next goal: getting her first assist certification.

Coming Full Circle

The irony of where her career has ended up isn’t lost on her. Despite having graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in youth and family ministry, religion, and philosophy from Midland University, she originally began her college career in their nursing program.

“My dad always gives me a little guff, saying ‘Look where you are now,’” Emily said with a laugh. “But health care just didn’t feel like my calling at the time.”

Instead, Emily discovered her calling was to support those around her. Whether she’s soothing nervous patients, mentoring new staff or simply bringing in homemade cinnamon rolls to lift spirits, Emily’s heart for service is reflected in her actions.

“Emily is one of the hardest working people I know,” Caitlin Jones, surgical services manager, said. “If we need somebody to stay late, we usually don’t even have to ask. She’s one of a kind, and we are so glad we have her.”

Beyond the Scrubs

Emily’s passion for serving others extends beyond the operating room walls. As a devout mother of two and church volunteer, Emily also finds time to pick up some house cleaning gigs on the weekends, bake goodies for family and friends, and even serve as state treasurer for the Nebraska Surgical Tech Association. 
 
Despite her busy schedule, she remains committed to each endeavor, pouring the same passion she brings to work into every role – not without the support of her colleagues, Emily is always quick to add. They rally around her, helping cover shifts so she can be present for her son’s high school senior year milestones.  

“The team helps me have balance,” she said.

Welcoming Change

That same spirit of growth and service has guided Emily through every chapter at KRMC. From its early days to joining Bryan Health, she embraces change as an opportunity to expand care and reach more patients.

“Rather than fear the change, I think you need to embrace it,” she said. “Our outreach is going to be bigger, our services are going to be better. It’s all meant for the patients.”

With a compassionate heart, drive to learn and dedication to patient care, Emily continues to grow and help others grow with her.

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Susanah Friesen, Cancer Program Massage Therapist

One of Susanah Friesen’s favorite parts of being a massage therapist is giving a massage to first-timers. She loves explaining the process and detailing the benefits of each method.

She always invites her new clients to ask questions and openly communicate with her about their needs and comfort level. However, convincing those first-time massage clients to come to the spa in the first place is probably one of the biggest challenges of the job.

“I've met a lot of people over the years who've never had a massage and they're pretty unsure,” she said. “I tell them, 'You’ll be fully draped, comfortable and feel secure.'”

She explains that massage is more than just a nicety or fun activity to splurge on; it’s a wellness tool for your body.

“It increases range of motion. It destresses the body,” she said. “It helps the body release dopamine and serotonin, giving great results for pain management goals and stress management.”

Massage therapy has been a passion of Susanah’s longer than the nearly 20 years she has worked in the industry. From a young age, she felt drawn to this career.

Answering the Call

During Susanah’s childhood, she and her mother would swap neck and shoulder massages often, and when she visited her grandma, Susanah would always sit and massage her feet. While she received a few pointers from her mom here and there, the practice came naturally to her, and she loved it.

Then one day, sitting and chatting while giving her grandma a foot massage, Susanah had an epiphany.

“She’s the one who really put the idea in my head that you can actually make a career out of this,” Susanah said about her grandmother.

Throughout high school, she honed her craft, giving all her friends and sports teammates massages to soothe tight or pulled muscles. Upon high school graduation, she went straight into massage therapy school and immediately felt at home.

“I’ve come to the conclusion that the career kind of picked me,” Susanah said. “It just felt like a natural choice, like this is what I was always supposed to do.”

Pursuing Her Life's Work

Susanah got her associate degree in massage therapy through the 18-month program at the Myotherapy Institute in Lincoln. Nebraska requires two licensing exams and over 2,000 hours of hands-on experience – more than any other state in the country aside from New York.

Her first job out of school was at a chiropractic office in town, where she teamed up with the chiropractors to create multi-disciplinary treatment plans for their patients. Her main contribution was massage therapy, but she also helped with other parts of treatment like ultrasound therapy, muscle stim therapy, exercises and stretches.

After nearly eight years at the chiropractic office, Susanah decided to take a position as a massage therapist at Bryan Health, where she could do all massage all the time.

Susanah began her Bryan Health career at Bryan LifePointe. When LifePointe ended its spa services, she then moved to The Spa at the April Sampson Cancer Center.

"She went into the transition with full steam ahead," Carly Oakland, Cancer Program operations manager, said. "She was full of enthusiasm and passion to make the next thing even better."

While The Spa is open to the public, the move gave Susanah the opportunity to work closely with cancer patients.

She even helped implement a program through Bryan Medical Center's Volunteers and Customer Care department in which she trains volunteers to give hand massages to patients receiving chemo treatments or infusions.

“It’s a really nice service. Somebody's going to come into your room, and they don't want to take any blood. They don't want a sample. They don't care about your numbers. They just want to be with you,” she said. “I like being able to help serve that population and add something positive to their treatment.”

It's all about being part of a full team providing care to patients and clients. Many of the providers, clinicians, practitioners and caregivers she works with all understand that each person contributes to helping someone feel better.

"We all have a role to play in helping people become aware of their bodies and and improve their bodies," she said.

It's one of the reasons she loves working at Bryan. With core values like "Care Like Crazy" and "One Team, One Purpose," she feels right at home.

"The core values that Bryan instills in their employees lines up with the core values that I have for my own personal life," she said. "I want that for this building, and I want that for the whole organization. We are players on the same team working toward the same goal."

Inspiring Health and Wellness

Even with 20 years under her belt, Susanah continues to fall in love with her job every day. No day is quite the same, because every body she works with is different.

“Our bodies are living, breathing, changing, healing things,” she said. “I don't have a scripted, methodical process that I go through step by step. I just kind of adapt and change. I can see a person five times, and their body is a little different every single time, because hopefully, they're getting better; they're improving. I don't think I ever do the same massage twice."

As a someone who works in the wellness side of health care, Susanah recognizes the importance of self-care – physically, mentally and emotionally – and reminds her clients of the same. 

"She does an incredible job of balancing her work and personal life," Carly said, "and practices what she preaches when it comes to wellness practices."

Often people will come in for a massage and apologize for their bodies, whether it’s because they have dry feet or a hairy back. It might just be one of Susanah’s biggest pet peeves.

“Nobody should ever apologize for their body,” she said. “Love it and appreciate it for what it is, for what it’s capable of.” 

She will remind her clients that they come to see her not because they are ashamed of their bodies, but because they appreciate their bodies and want to take care of them. 

“You want to help it feel as good as it can, because it needs to be able to work and carry you from day to day so that you can do all the things you need to do for yourself and for your family,” she said. “That's why you’re here, right? Because we love our bodies, and we want to take care of ourselves.”

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Klinton Laschanzky, Nutrition and Dining Services Technician

Every weekday morning, patrons of the Bryan East Campus cafeteria are met with a friendly face and warm greeting from the tall man behind the omelet station.

Well-known for his ever-present smile and knack for remembering everyone’s order, Klinton Laschanzky is hard to miss, not because of his large stature, but because of his kindness toward every person to walk into the cafeteria.

“You don't know what someone's here for, and it's nice to you know you're making their day,” he said. “They may have just had a kid, or they may have just lost a parent. You never know what you deal with."

Klint’s role is more than just a job to him. It’s about the connections and meeting the customer – employee, patient or visitor – where they are. Whether it’s asking about someone’s weekend plans, swapping dog stories or remembering a regular’s favorite omelet ingredients, Klint tries to brighten the day for whoever walks in.

“He really knows how to read people and greet them. He talks to them like he's known them forever. I think that really resonates with people," supervisor Jameison Cooper said.

It made him the perfect choice for the omelet station when it was added to the breakfast service over five years ago. Not only does he fill the silence and make time go a little faster during the wait for an omelet, but with the station near the cafeteria entrance, he’s often the first person that people see.

“He’s very personable,” Jameison said, “and that’s particularly important in the morning, because a lot of these people are just getting their day started.”

Lending a Helping Hand

Klint isn’t just a superb omelet flipper or welcoming presence. With eight years at Bryan Medical Center under his belt, he’s been an integral part of Nutrition and Dining Services, wearing many different hats and tackling various roles with an infectious enthusiasm. His colleagues often describe him as a “jack-of-all-trades,” a title he fully embraces.

“I’ve learned every position we have to offer,” he said with a laugh.

Whether running the register, carrying trays for customers, handling the fast-paced lunch rush or even stepping in for a late-night shift on occasion, he’s always ready to jump in wherever he’s needed.

“He's quite capable, and he does it all like it’s no big deal. We trust that he does it well and gets it all done," Jameison said.

A Family Man

Klint’s jack-of-all-trades spirit doesn’t just apply to his main role at Bryan. He balances multiple jobs, including in-home caregiving and bartending, and his resumé boasts work in fencing, warehouse distribution and security. And when he’s not at one of his jobs, his wife puts him to work building and fixing things around the home. He doesn’t mind – he loves bringing her Pinterest dreams to life.

With such a packed schedule, it’s hard to imagine he has time for anything else. Yet, Klint still finds a way to make time for the most important part of his life – his family. In fact, providing for them is one of his greatest joys.

That’s one of the reasons he’s loves working for Bryan in particular. Between the “amazing hours,” awesome teammates and thoughtful leaders, he’s been able to truly focus on spending time with and providing for his family.

“Working 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. every day means I have the whole afternoon with my family," he said. "It’s nice to be able to pick my child up from school and do sporting events or other extra activities.”

More than a Job

For Klint, work isn’t just a means to an end. It’s a way to connect with people, whether that’s his colleagues behind counter or the customers in front of it. Ultimately, if he can make someone else’s day just a little bit better, it’s a been good day.

“It’s just an easy way to make the day go quick and make it enjoyable,” he said.

It’s that friendliness that makes Klint “one of the good ones,” according to Jameison.

Klint leaves a lasting impression on the many individuals who come and go from the Bryan East Campus cafeteria, and he’ll continue to do so, one friendly smile and perfectly cooked omelet at a time.

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Anthony Eickmeier, RN

It was just another fall day in October 2021 when Anthony Eickmeier, RN, got the call — he was being deployed with the National Guard.

“I didn't really know how to feel,” he said. “It was a split of emotions of, 'I want to be here, but I also know this is where I'm supposed to go. This is what I signed up for.'”

He gave himself the day to process the news and to tell immediate family. The following day, he went to work on E-6N, the intensive care unit at Bryan East Campus, and told his nurse manager, Candy Locke, RN, the situation: he would be leaving for Africa in six months.

A Supportive Workplace

Having known Anthony was in the Nebraska Army National Guard at the time of his hiring, Candy, along with assistant nurse manager Leah Harrington, knew he could potentially be deployed. When they got the news, they quickly began problem-solving to help Anthony prepare for deployment.

“They were so gracious with me, with everything that was going on,” he said. “They worked with me to figure out how to see family before I left, which was a big thing for me.”

Their support for Anthony didn’t just stop on the unit floor, however. While Anthony was overseas, his team on E-6N cheered him on from afar. He stayed in touch with his friend and co-worker Seth, who would then relay Anthony’s messages to Candy, Leah and the rest of the unit.

One day, Anthony even received a care package from his team. The package was filled with kind words and thoughtful gifts. It was so meaningful to Anthony that he decided to fly a flag on one of the armored vehicles he patrolled the area with in honor of his family on E-6N.

“Anthony is the type of person that always has other’s best interest at heart,” Leah said. “He is someone who everyone gets along with, and his peers respect and truly appreciate all that he brings to the unit.”

A Call to Serve

Anthony’s desire to serve others, both patients and his country, runs in his blood. With a father and brother who are veterans of the Navy, another brother in the National Guard, and several siblings in the healthcare industry, his career path didn’t come as much surprise. However, it was his mom who, Anthony said, influenced him most.

“Growing up, I always saw my mom take care of people. She was a nurse tech,” he said. “Seeing the care she gave, the compassion she showed and then the relationships she built, really inspired me to get into health care.”

He started as a nurse tech when he was 16 and thought he would eventually become a physician’s assistant. However, once he got to college, he realized he wanted to start taking care of people sooner, so he switched his career path to nursing.

“I felt like I was following a calling, taking care of people and hopefully sharing that same compassion and care I saw my mom give,” he said.

While in nursing school, the COVID-19 pandemic began, and many hospitals closed their doors to anyone who wasn’t necessary to patient care, including nursing students looking for externships. After reevaluating his plans for the summer, Anthony decided to reach out to a National Guard recruiter.

Anthony was sworn in on March 13, 2021. He spent that summer completing infantry training and airborne school. In the fall, he began his job as a nurse for E-6N on Bryan East Campus.

A Warm Welcome Home

After Anthony was deployed, he spent three months in training and nine months overseas. When he finally came back to his unit on E-6N, he felt at home right away.

“You spend a week away from the hospital, and things change. You spend a year away, and everything's completely different,” he said. “But 6N will always be 6N. No matter how much things have changed or how much time has passed, the vibe is still the same. Everything about 6N is home for me. I couldn't imagine working any anywhere else.”

With so much gratitude in his heart, Anthony framed the flag he flew in their honor overseas, and he presented it to his team upon his return.

“It was kind of like a ‘I was away, but thank you for everything you guys did,’” he said. “And then also thank you for welcoming me back so easily and making the transition easy.”

Anthony even nominated Candy and Leah for the Patriot Award, which is given to supervisors or bosses of an employee serving in the National Guard or Reserve for their support of the employee. Upon his return, they gave him the time and space he needed to learn new processes, acquire necessary certifications and reorient back to civilian life.

"We just wanted to make sure he came back to his 'home' on E-6N," Leah said.

The flag continues to sit on display at the nurse’s station on E-6N, a proud reminder of Anthony’s service to his country and gratitude to his team.

In the full life Anthony’s lived so far, he’s learned the important of relationships and caring for others.

“Taking that time to really build bonds and relationships with people is the highlight of everything that I've learned,” he said. “You never know who needs compassion and who needs kindness.”

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Cindy Schroeder, Cardiovascular Sonographer

Everyone endured tough moments during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the cardiovascular sonography department at Bryan Medical Center was no different. But one sonographer’s contagious smile helped bring some much-needed light during challenging times.

Cindy Schroeder has been a cardiac sonographer in the echocardiography (echo) lab at Bryan Medical Center for 15 years. She’s been there when it’s seen incredible growth and when they’ve faced difficult challenges, but through it all, she’s kept a smile on her face.

“She’s always the light in the dark,” Danen Boyd, cardiac and vascular services director, said. “There is never a time that I have not turned a corner and seen a smile on Cindy’s face.”

A Hearty Interest

Cindy first discovered an interest in health care, specifically for the heart, when her dad developed heart issues while she was in high school. When college came around, she decided she wanted to pursue a career in cardiac rehab. However, her college didn’t have a nursing program. So, she majored in the next closest thing – exercise science and wellness.

After completing her bachelor's degree, she began working at a hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa, where she was trained in echocardiography (ultrasounds of the heart).

She loved it.

After nine years into her job, she learned of an opening at Bryan Medical Center for an echo sonographer. She decided to apply, since she currently lived in Lincoln and had been commuting to Council Bluffs every day.

She got the job, becoming one of about 30 sonographers in the department.

Opportunities in the Workplace

Cindy fit right in at Bryan. Her compassion for patients made her a great addition to the team.

“She’s always smiling and just brings joy to us,” Danen said. “When it comes to patient care, she has sincere compassion and care for patients.”

Cindy loved working with patients, and she appreciated Bryan’s approach to patient care.

“At Bryan, our goal is to treat everyone as if they were our own family and how they would like to be treated,” she said.

Aside from patient care, Cindy also loved that Bryan offered her the opportunity to help with and perform other cardiac exams and procedures, like transaortic valve replacement, pulmonary vein isolation and transesophageal echo. The different procedures gave her variety in her work.

The opportunities only continued to expand as the department continued to grow. After 15 years at Bryan, Cindy’s team grew from around 30 sonographers to around 40 today.

“That growth and the opportunity to be able to do different cardiac procedures with echo has been wonderful,” she said. “It's created a lot of opportunities, and I think a lot of sonographers that are here, including me, really appreciate that.”

Facing Challenges Together

Those 15 years did not come without challenges, however. For a time, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, burnout began getting the best of many in Cindy’s department.

“It wasn't easy,” she said. “You just see all your friends leave, and you know how good of sonographers they are, and they're no longer going to be here. That was very hard.”

But Cindy always managed to find her smile, even during the difficult times.

“What kept me going is the culture at Bryan and the co-workers I did have here,” she said. “You just didn't want to desert each other. You've been through the thick and thin, so you're just going to ride it out. You just want to stay here.”

After Danen came on board, along with non-invasive cardiovascular manager Katie Lee, changes came to the department, and Cindy was instrumental in helping implement the changes to improve the work environment.

“She has that optimism of ‘yeah, we'll give it a try. We'll see how it goes,’” Danen said. “She plays the role of positive thinking for the team.

“She’s that person where I wish I had 25 of them.”

Again, Cindy modestly gave the credit for the department’s culture shift to her team.

“There’s been some tough times, like during COVID, that we have really bonded together. We leaned on each other,” she said. “Everybody's always willing to help each other out.”

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AJ Freburg, Laboratory Courier

On Jan. 5, 2024, AJ Freburg was completing one of her last courier runs at Complete Endocrinology. The company she had contracted with as courier for 30 years decided to close all Nebraska operations, and Jan. 5 was its last day of service.

AJ didn’t have much of a plan past this day, and she felt unsure of her future. But what she was sure of was missing “her people” at the various Bryan Physician Network (BPN) offices she had come to know through her work.

As she got on the elevator to complete one of her final stops, she ran into Brandon Allgood, laboratory logistics manager, and they struck up a conversation.

She noticed he was carrying a lab specimen, and he noticed the courier company’s logo on her jacket.

An Answered Prayer

Between the time they got on the elevator on the first floor and the time they got off the elevator at the fourth floor, the two had all but struck a deal.

Brandon, who was working on creating a new department at Bryan Health for in-house courier services, still had positions he needed to fill. AJ needed to find a new job.

She got Brandon’s business card and he took a photo of her badge so he could be on the lookout for her application.

“It was an answer to a prayer,” AJ said.

As they exited the elevator, Brandon watched AJ head into Complete Endocrinology. She lit up the office with a warm smile and bright enthusiasm.

“They were all excited to see her,” he said. “She was striking up casual conversation and it seemed she had talked with them on a day-to-day basis. I was thinking this is exactly what I'm looking for in a lab courier.”

On their way back from their separate errands, they happened to run into each other again on the elevator ride down, and they picked up their conversation. The more Brandon talked to AJ, the more excited he was to get her on his team.

“I said to her, ‘We're looking for somebody, and I think you would definitely fit the bill,’” Brandon said. “She already has these relationships. It just made too much sense."

Part of the Team

A few weeks later, AJ returned to Complete Endocrinology, this time with a Bryan Health badge.

“When I got my badge, I came into Complete Endocrinology, and I was like, ‘Look you guys! I’m one of you now!’” AJ said with laugh. “They were so excited. They cheered. They didn't know what was going to happen with everything, and I'm just glad it was a very seamless transition.”

While AJ’s new job requires the movement of more lab specimens and medical equipment than interoffice mail and records, she quickly realized the people “at the back of the house” are just as friendly as the people “at the front of the house.”

“It has not disappointed because everybody has been so wonderful,” she said. “The people who work here are really great.”

Not only did the new job play to her strengths and allow her to continue the relationships she had been building over the past 30 years, but it also gave her a few things she hadn’t had for a long time as a contractor.

“At sixty years old, I have a 401(k) finally,” she said with a proud smile. “I don't have to drive my own car; Bryan Health lets me drive their car. They fix it if something's broken. They put gas in it. I drive six miles to work and six miles home in my own car – that's it. It’s fantastic.”

For Brandon, AJ quickly became a model employee for his department. She already had the Bryan Health core values embedded in her character, and she knew how to balance relationship building with timely deliveries.

“The standard idea of couriers is that they show up, take your samples, and go. That's it,” Brandon said. “Granted it's quick and efficient, but spending the extra couple minutes like AJ does – as long as you know your routes, your times, the kinds of samples you're taking, and you're not putting those into jeopardy – you're being the face of Bryan showing the quality behind its name.”

Reflecting on Fate

When AJ reflects on the day she ran into Brandon, she can’t help but feel that their meeting was written in the stars. She’s now been on the job for a handful of months, and she couldn’t be happier.

For her, working for Bryan just makes sense.

“I think people get tired of hearing how happy I am,” she said with a laugh. “It feels like I was brought under the wing of Bryan Health, and it’s a dream come true.”

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Caroline Madison, Patient Registrar

When someone asks Caroline Madison where she’s from, she never knows exactly what to tell them.

She’s lived in Nebraska, for the past 20+ years, but before that, she lived in California, Indonesia, Australia, Ireland, Germany, Holland – and she was actually born in England.

Her dad’s specialization in agricultural sent her and her family all over the world during her childhood. After three years of high school at an international school in Indonesia, Caroline finished her senior year at a school in California.

A Break from Traveling

A little weary from the expat life, she decided to stay in California for college.

She began building her life there, getting married, having a couple of children and working in child care. Then her mom and stepdad moved to Nebraska.

Every time she visited, the people impressed her.

“I thought that it was such a nice place, just so much more down to earth than where I lived,” she said. “I remember thinking I would really like to live out there.”

Eventually, Caroline did just that.

A Change in Scenery

Caroline continued her career in child care and also had a couple more children after moving to Nebraska.

The place started to feel like home.

However, after nearly 30 years in child care, Caroline decided she needed another change. That’s how she found a position as a patient registrar for the Bryan Health Emergency Department (ED).

“I like to take care of people and do things that can help people, so I always thought a hospital would be a nice place to go next,” she said.

The job description advertised training, so she went out on a limb and applied.

“I walked in saying, ‘This is what I've got. I hope you see something in me,’” she said.

Caroline got the job and began working at Bryan Medical Center in 2019. Despite a few challenges at the beginning, she loved it.

“All I could do was just give it my best shot and work as hard as I could, and that's what I did,” she said. “You never really know what it's going to be like working in an Emergency Department until you try it – it's been an adventure for sure.”

A New Path

After nearly five years in the ED, Caroline became a patient registrar for Admissions. The her job title and the work are similar, but not quite the same. While she is still gathering patient information and verifying identities, she wasn’t checking patients into the ED the way she’s checking them in for appointments throughout the rest of the hospital.

She said that was probably her biggest learning curve – figuring out where everything else was in the hospital. She was used to her “own littler world” in the ED, but working in admissions, she was helping patients get to all corners of the hospital buildings on both Bryan East and West Campuses.

“I knew this hospital was big, but, my goodness, it is huge,” she said.

Still, Caroline continues to learn the ropes of the new position, having started only a few months ago. She said she’ll always love her team in the ED, but she’s grateful for the acceptance and kindness her new admissions team has shown her.

“Everybody in Admissions has been beyond kind and helpful,” she said. “I don’t even know how to describe that department. They are like a family.”

Fitting Right In

Caroline’s work ethic, attention to detail and friendly face made it easy for her to fit right in, according to patient registrar manager Jess King.

“She's so good at this job that she has just slid right in and it feels like she's been there this whole time,” Jess said. “She is always happy and upbeat, even when the days are hard. She just adds a level of optimism and positivity that is just what everyone needs.”

With Caroline on the team, Jess looks forward to having her team continue the development of a positive environment for patients, who often would rather be anywhere other than the hospital.

“We have three and a half minutes to start off on the right foot, to put somebody at ease, to listen to somebody who just wants someone to hear how bad they're feeling,” Jess said. “And it all comes very naturally to Caroline.”

That might just be why Caroline noticed a difference in the people of Nebraska when she first visited all those years ago – she related with them.

“You can tell a big difference in the people in Nebraska. They’re just so warm and welcoming,” she said.

Now, despite having experienced many places around the world, Caroline is happy to call Nebraska, and Bryan, home.

“I love Bryan. They take great care of their employees and their patients,” she said. “I've always said this is where I want to retire, and I still plan on doing that. Moving to Nebraska – I’ve never regretted it.”

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Kari Jones, RN

Each morning Kari Jones, RN, wakes up to a text that tells her exactly where she’s going that day. One day she might be assigned to a geriatric unit at Bryan East Campus, and then the next, she’s helping at the Emergency Department on Bryan West Campus. As a float nurse, the unknown is just a part of the job – and she’s been doing it for nearly 30 years.

“I like change,” she said. “It's nice, because everybody's always happy to see me.”

Providing the Best Care

While most float nurses either came from a unit or transfer to a more permanent unit after floating for a time, Kari has never considered staying in one place. She knows that even though it can be hard to build that patient-nurse bond or even bond with co-workers after just one shift, her role plays a huge part in providing the top-notch care Bryan is known for. Her dedication to providing the best possible stay for her patients has become widely known throughout the hospital.

“I was a house supervisor before I knew her. So at that time, I knew of her – she was a name to me, and then also kind of a legend as well, because she is just so well known around the hospital,” Blair Heard, nurse manager for float pool staff, said.

“She truly goes above and beyond doing the little things for the patient. If the floor is really busy or we're short a tech and the patient needs a shower, she's the first one to do it. She knows that that's just as important to making them feel like a whole person and getting them better."

Role Model Nurse

Going above and beyond is the main function for the float pool. While its bread and butter is to fill in a spot or two on a unit, it’s not uncommon for the float pool to take on unique jobs or even open an entire unit on their own. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was often the float pool nurses out on COVID-19 testing or vaccine drives.

“We spent hours and hours swabbing noses in the COVID drive-thru just freezing or dripping in sweat,” Kari said. “The float pool gets pulled in many different directions.”

With all these different experiences under her belt, Kari has become a wealth of knowledge for every unit she floats to.

“The experience that she brings to the floor every day when she works and how she imparts that on other people is invaluable,” Blair said. “She doesn't formally precept people, but, people always feel so good coming to her with questions. She's very open with them. She teaches as she works."

Kari loves it. Having been on a different unit every shift for the past 30 years, she's been able to inspire and teach many students and then watch them grow as they travel through the nursing ranks.

“Through the years, so many students that I've had or I've worked with as nursing techs while they're in nursing school are now my co-workers or nurse practitioners,” she said. “It's nice to inspire some other people to go a bit above and beyond.”

"She's truly an example for any new nurse to follow," Blair said.

Helping Where Help Is Needed

Because of her experience and her positive attitude toward patient care, units welcome Kari with open arms.

“I remember when I was house supervisor," Blair said. "I would call units and be like, ‘Okay, here's who you're getting today,’ and it would be a sigh of relief when they would hear that Kari was coming to their unit. They just know they're getting a great nurse, someone who's going to do an amazing job no matter what the day brings.”

For Kari, it has always been about the patient, no matter the challenges that constant change as a float nurse brings.

“I just like taking care of people. I really do. Some of that is a little challenging, but taking care of patients is the same no matter where you're at.”

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Olivia Oerman, RN

Olivia Oerman didn’t really have a dream job growing up. However, that changed when several family members got sick.

Her brother and grandmother were both diagnosed with cancer while she was in high school, and her grandmother ultimately passed away. Throughout the entire length of their illnesses, Olivia saw how nurses interacted with patients, doing everything they could to ease the burden of her family members’ ailments.

Watching the nurses, she felt that she could make a difference in the lives of people like her brother and grandmother, too.

“I don't really have that many family members in the medical field, so I didn't have that kind of exposure. I mainly had exposure through family members receiving care,” she said. “It piqued my interest. It was a way to interact with patients and have an impact in helping them get better. I wanted to be a part of that.”

A Nurse and a Leader

Fast forward to today, Olivia has been an RN for the 5E/5W Cardiac Medical Unit at Bryan East Campus for nearly four years. It’s clear to her and her team that she made the right decision for her career.

“Olivia is kindhearted and wants the best for everyone,” Molly Sass, 5E/5W nurse manager, said.

That goes for Olivia as a nurse and as a leader. With four years of experience under her belt, she often serves as charge nurse for her unit. Her infectious smile, tenacious hard work and thoughtful leadership have proven invaluable to the operation of the 5E/5W unit.

“On a daily, Olivia puts her team first. She does whatever she can to help the day run smoothly,” Molly said. “Through her leadership as a charge nurse, she provides support for her team and is a positive role model for others on the unit.”

Olivia feels the same way about the rest of the team. What makes their unit great is the teamwork they all put in, she said.

“I love the unit I work on, and I think that's one of the reasons I like this position so much – it’s the people. It's a fun work environment,” she said. “Everyone is so helpful, and everyone will pitch in if you need help. Knowing that I work with a great team helps keep me going.”

A Focus on Patient Care

Olivia finds that taking care of patients is the most rewarding aspect of her work, despite the everyday issues of capacity, obtaining orders, workforce challenges and noncompliant patients. It’s about doing what’s best for the patient.

“These patients are not in the best time of their lives, and they are going through so much. Half the time they aren't acting how they normally would if they felt better,” she said. “It is a hard job, but we have to make the most of the little successes and the positivity."

At the end of the day, her goal is to see patients leave the hospital in better shape than when they arrived.

“I like to see people improve, to get them feeling better and push them to see if we can hopefully get them home,” she said. “I think the demand of our jobs has made some people go away from the bedside, and I understand. I get where they're coming from. But I still enjoy the connections of bedside nursing, and so I’m happy where I’m at. I go home tired, but there's definitely little parts of the day that are rewarding.”

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Faces of Bryan is an initiative highlighting the unique individuals at Bryan Health who come together to form One Team, One Purpose.

QUESTIONS? If you have questions or would like to nominate an employee to be featured in this series, contact Olivia Thomas, communications specialist, at Olivia.Thomas@bryanhealth.org