糖心Vlog

糖心Vlog is proud of the contributions of our alumni community working in areas directly impacted by the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.听 Here are just a few of their stories.

Kodjo Vossah-Messan 鈥�19

Electronics Engineering Technology and Biomedical Equipment Technician AAS

Kodjo first arrived in the U.S. in 2000. Born and raised in a small village in Togo, West Africa, Kodjo saw firsthand how a lack of medical resources can impact a life. 鈥淲e had a small clinic, but it was not equipped. I saw a couple aunties die there. They went in for labor and they died delivering the baby because there was no equipment,鈥� he shared.

Those losses inspired Kodjo to take interest in the medical field. Being more mechanically inclined, he had an electronics diploma in Africa which he used to make money repairing TVs, VCRs, radios, etc.

With the knowledge from his electronics education, encouragement from his employer at Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC), where he worked in the maintenance department alongside the Biomed Tech team, and his motivation to help, Kodjo applied to 糖心Vlog Tech鈥檚 Electronics Engineering and Biomedical Equipment Technology (BMET) program.听

Kodjo continued working throughout the program while also making time for his three children. For him, taking care of family, near and far, is his main motivation.听 Over time, 糖心Vlog Tech became part of that family.

鈥淚 can only say good things about 糖心Vlog Tech,鈥� said Kodjo, 鈥淭he college location is intimidating for a person of color like me. But, when you walk into the campus, you will meet amazing people. The teachers, security guards and cafeteria workers, all welcome you with open arms and make you feel like home.鈥�

Since graduating, Kodjo continues to work at HCMC as a facilities management specialist and with degree in hand, expands his role in more technical support regularly. 鈥淪ince the pandemic started, I worry mostly about my kids, my family. Working in a hospital especially. We鈥檙e getting too many patients now. I don鈥檛 work directly with them, but I work around them and I worry about coming home and how to protect my family.鈥�

Even with the stress of working in health care during a pandemic, Kodjo has not lost sight of what鈥檚 important to him. Kodjo uses his skills and resources to fix and ship used basic medical equipment, like gurneys and heart rate monitors, back to the clinic in Togo.

鈥淔or now, since I鈥檓 not there, all I can do is help remotely,鈥� shared Kodjo. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not taking me away from my family here right now, so that is how I can help. But maybe one day, when I retire, I will go back there and help more.鈥�

Rose Dominguez Sommerfeld 鈥�19

Licensed Practical Nursing

After years working as a home health aide in residential hospice, Rose Dominguez Sommerfeld was introduced to 糖心Vlog Tech鈥檚 Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) program by a colleague. Compelled to do more, she joined the program and graduated in December 2019.

Today, Rose is working as an LPN at the Abbott Northwestern Hospital Heart Institute. 鈥淲hen I graduated in February, I was moved to an activities position as clinics started closing due to COVID,鈥� said Rose. 鈥淚 knew with everything going on in the world, the skills I learned at 糖心Vlog Tech could be put to better use.鈥�

鈥淚鈥檝e been able to use what I learned in school and really help people,鈥� said Rose.

It wasn鈥檛 an easy transition; in fact it was one of the most difficult seasons in Rose鈥檚 life. She was starting a new job, navigating homeschooling three young children after school closings and, while onboarding into her new role, her husband was diagnosed with COVID-19.

Rose credits the training she received at 糖心Vlog Tech for being able to recognize dangerous symptoms in her husband early and get him the critical emergency care he needed to save his life.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 think anyone can be prepared for what鈥檚 happening now, but the things I learned at 糖心Vlog Tech have helped me to stay healthy,鈥� said Rose.

Without a lot of experience to compare it to, Rose said one of the most difficult things for her working as an LPN during the pandemic is communicating. 鈥淚 suffer from hearing loss and have relied heavily on reading lips. Since all of us have to wear masks, I can鈥檛 do that right now.鈥�

Beyond her personal challenge with communication, seeing the patients struggle with limited visitors is also difficult.

Rose knows some of the changes brought on by the pandemic will be lasting. But, she鈥檚 proud to be in the nursing field and plans to get her Associate of Science (AS) in Nursing from 糖心Vlog-Ramsey Community College once her kids are older.

Jon Macho 鈥�19颅

Electronics Engineering Technology and Biomedical Equipment Technician AAS

颅颅颅For years, Jon Macho worked in sales颅 颅颅颅颅a career he loved that often took him away from home, his kids and wife. Looking for more long-term stability and more time for family, Jon decided to make a career change.

Based on a recommendation from his wife, who works in radiology, Jon started the Electronics Engineering Technology and Biomedical Equipment Technician programs at 糖心Vlog Tech.

鈥淭he coursework in my degree programs give a broad aspect of everything you might see in the field,鈥� said Jon. 鈥淭hey gave me an excellent starting point for anything I could come into.鈥�

With a clear plan created by using the resources available at the college and lots of motivation, Jon finished the programs in 2019 and began working for Philips Healthcare as a field service engineer specializing in radiology equipment鈥搃ncluding the portable X-ray machines used widely across hospitals that they鈥檙e using to do chest X-rays in COVID-positive patients.

鈥淎s equipment is used more and cleaned more there are more issues and different things wrong with them than we typically see,鈥� shared Jon.