Lab Scientists Under the Microscope: Meet Hannah Mims

Last spring, in celebration of Lab Week, we published a series of profiles highlighting the lives and work of public health laboratory professionals around the country.

Lab professionals excitedly told us about their favorite lab instruments, spared no details when describing the most “interesting” specimen they ever worked on and just generally gave us a fascinating look at their lives inside and out of the lab. The response to that blog series was so positive, we decided to keep the party going for Public Health Laboratory Appreciation Month (PHLAM) and put more scientists under the microscope. Each week of PHLAM, we’ll highlight another scientist and give you an insider’s glimpse into their lives on the bench—and beyond. What fulfills them? What fuels them? And where do they find fun along the way?

Hannah Mims, senior microbiologist, Alabama Department of Public Health, Bureau of Clinical Laboratories

What was your first job?

My first real job was working for a sports photography company (for little kids, not professional sports). I started out helping kids pose with their baseball bats, soccer balls, etc. Eventually, I got a position in quality control where I made sure the products matched the purchases.

What’s the most interesting, unique, disgusting (add your own adjective) specimen/case you ever worked on?

The most interesting specimens that come to mind are: 1. a screw from a patient’s spine – the whole screw was in the conical tube, with some blood and tissue attached; 2. a cornea that had been removed from a patient and put into a conical tube. I can still vividly remember how freaky it was to see the corneal details!

What’s one thing about lab scientists that you wish everyone else knew?

We play a big role in the diagnostic process for patients and in outbreak response. Before my career in public health, I never realized how many diseases and disorders are first detected by the lab.

What do you do to relieve stress in the lab?

If I have spare moments, I’ll find coloring pages to complete and hang up in the lab. Events such as Medical Laboratory Professionals Week, door-decorating contests or holiday-specific celebrations help to bring some fun into the workday as well.

What’s your favorite lab instrument and why?

MALDI-TOF, without a doubt. It is our workhorse for identification, and the engineering inside the instrument is fascinating. I use it so much that I feel connected to it emotionally.