Garfield County Hospital District is pleased to announce May's Employee of the Month, Radiology Technologist (R), CT Chelsea Poe. She was nominated by her co-workers who proudly state, "She is an amazing worker." Chelsea is originally from California and graduated from Fortuna High School in 2005. Her mother was raised in Moscow, Id., on a farm and several other family members live in the surrounding areas. She loves this area and proudly admits her family even has a road named after them, Wallen Road, in Latah County.

After graduation, Chelsea attended College of the Redwoods, taking general education courses, and then moved to Idaho where she worked briefly as an Electronic Assembler building computer boards at Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories.

She moved back to California and began working at the famous deli and gift shop called "One Log House" in Redwood, Calif. This unique restaurant is a popular tourist attraction that is a historic site. Staying true to its name, the house was hewn out a single,1900-year-old giant redwood. Chelsea not only worked as a waitress but served as a barista and enjoyed talking to the tourist as they stopped to take in the sites. In her free time, she had the privilege of touring all over the area taking in the beauty of the breathtaking majestic Redwood Forest.

After moving back to Idaho to be near family, she decided to enroll in beauty school at Mr. Leon's in Moscow, obtaining her cosmetologist license in both Idaho and Washington.

While in beauty school, she had a unique experience, one that changed her life and altered her future. A gentleman came in for a haircut but shortly after he arrived, went into cardiac arrest and Chelsea quickly performed CPR, helping to save his life that day. She contributes this event to the reason she went into the medical field, and while working as a hairstylist she made a pivotal decision to change careers.

"The medical field has always fascinated me," she said. "I always really thought caring for people and being in a more stressful environment is exciting."

She began attending LCSC for Radiographic Science and earned her Associates Degree, pursing her dream as a Radiology Technologist (RT). While attending school, she began working part time at Whitman Hospital in Colfax, in May 2018, and later joined GCHD Radiology Department, as well, in January 2019.

Chelsea has proven to be a great asset and her work ethic is impeccable. Her goal is to pursue all the certificates available in her field. Recently she achieved her Computer Tomography (CT) Certification, to operate CT machines.

Chelsea's kind disposition and caring spirit is recognized by her co-workers. "She is always happy, even when called and woke up! She takes excellent pictures, always has a smile on her face and is super sweet."

When asked what she likes most about her job, she replied, "I like the aspect of caring for people and I also like the technical aspect of imaging, computers and running the machines."

Please help us in congratulating Chelsea for her commitment to striving to be the best, achieving her goals, and for being an extraordinary example of an outstanding employee!