Dave Lingafelt, also known as “Dave in the Lab,” Medical Laboratory Scientist, Pathology, is a much valued member of Mount Nittany Health and his department. He is calm, cool, and collected under pressure, and he always goes above and beyond to see that things are done properly and in a timely manner. He works well with his colleagues and he is always willing to answer questions in a thoughtful way. On top of all of this, he always maintains a positive attitude and is kind to others.
Dave epitomizes all of Mount Nittany Health’s core values of caring, excellence, integrity, respect, teamwork, and stewardship. For this honor, he is being recognized for exemplifying integrity each day.
Over multiple months, he has received several nominations for Employee of the Month. They said, “Dave always goes above and beyond for the third shift. He works fast and hard, and he is able to get results to the clinicians who depend on them quickly. He is an exceptional team player and he always goes the extra mile to ensure patient care is optimized. He is thorough and does not turn his head to avoid doing extra work. Dave is always willing to take on new projects and will take feedback or ask questions when he may not know something. Most importantly, Dave is always willing to pick up extra shifts to see that his department is staffed appropriately.”
Dave has served Mount Nittany Health as a Medical Laboratory Scientist for 12 years. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Saint Frances University, and was also a 2012 graduate of Altoona Regional Hospital’s School of Medical Laboratory Science program. Prior to entering the medical field, he served four years in the United States Army as an Infantryman with the 1/506th 101st Airborne Division, including a yearlong deployment to Ramadi, Iraq in 2006. He also has an Associate’s Degree in Criminology from Mount Aloysius College.
Dave was humbled and honored to be named Employee of the Month, and explained that he never expected to be nominated. “Some of my favorite things about being in the Lab, particularly at night, are the solitude and independence I have,” said Dave. “With only two of us responsible for all testing during that time, I am able to see the big picture as results come in from each department. I feel this gives me a greater understanding of the patient’s conditions and the freedom to quickly take the necessary steps in other departments that I might be excluded from if I were to work a different shift. Also, I love that I can start playing Christmas music as soon as Thanksgiving is over.”
When Dave isn’t busy making a difference in the lives of Mount Nittany Health’s patients and the larger community, he enjoys spending time with his family. He jokingly said, “Although I am not a sports fan, most of my free time these days is tied up with watching my boys play baseball, football, soccer, and taekwondo.” He also enjoys building things and collecting historical firearms. He enjoys the love and support of his wife, Kayla, and his children, Rayne, Jack, and Marcus. His family has 11 chickens, a dog, and three cats.
We are so grateful to have Dave as part of our team and applaud him for being such a wonderful colleague. Please join us in congratulating him on this honor. Dave, thank you for all you do for our patients, your colleagues, and for contributing to our mission of “Healthier people, stronger community.”