Longtime lab director Jini Danis retires, lab staff take on new roles

Jini Danis, who has led Asante Laboratory Services for the past 13 years, announced her retirement after a four-decade career with Asante.

She will continue to help with special projects in an on-call consultant status before fully retiring. Danis joined Asante 44 years ago and has made significant contributions to Asante, such as converting the main lab to full automation and leading lab collection and testing efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are so grateful to Jini for her dedication and steadfast servant leadership,” said Kristi Blackhurst, vice president of Operations for ARRMC. “She is leaving a legacy of strong leadership behind and will always be a part of our Asante family.”

She is succeeded by Sarah Engstrom, who will become ARRMC laboratory director. Engstrom has 18 years of clinical laboratory science experience. She came to Asante from Legacy Health in Portland and has held progressive leadership roles within the Asante lab over the past eight years. For the past three years, she has served as laboratory operations manager. Sarah is actively pursuing her MBA and expects to graduate in 2023.

Jeremy Filip has been promoted to laboratory operations manager. Filip has six years of clinical laboratory science experience and has held leadership roles within ARRMC and AACH, most recently serving as microbiology operations manager. Filip has an extensive background in molecular biology and was instrumental in bringing COVID-19 molecular testing to Asante.

Jacob Blair has been promoted to microbiology operations manager. Blair has six years of clinical laboratory experience and came to Asante from Curry Health Network. He has served for almost two years as AACH lab supervisor and has been very successful in building a strong team, achieving high Employee Voice survey results, and leading the initiative to move the AACH laboratory from COLA accreditation to College of American Pathologists accreditation.

Tom Arnold has been promoted to AACH lab supervisor. Arnold has worked for Asante as a lab technologist for six years. He has solid laboratory science experience, has been a member of our open-heart team, and has served as lead technologist and trainer for new staff.

“Please help me to congratulate Jini on her well-deserved retirement and on leaving us with such a thoughtful succession of great leaders,” Blackhurst said. “Please also help me to congratulate Sarah, Jeremy, Jake and Tom on their new roles.”