Columbus Community Hospital Announces New Laboratory Director

Columbus Community Hospital has named Zoann Braasch the new director of its laboratory department. She began working at the hospital on Feb. 21.

Braasch began her career working for East Central District Health Department until it discontinued laboratory services at its location. She also spent 16 years working at the Schuyler hospital, now CHI Health. She spent the last six years with CHI Health as the laboratory supervisor and coordinator.

Most recently, she worked as the laboratory manager at Merrick Medical Center in Central City.

“Zoann is from the area, and she comes to us with a great deal of experience in leadership in the laboratory environment,” said Keith Luedders, vice president of ancillary services at the hospital. “She understands our community, and she is passionate about her profession.” 

Braasch received her Bachelor of Science degree from Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa. She received her certification as a medical laboratory scientist from the American Society for Clinical Pathology.

“Zoann is a good fit for this position because she has a background in chemistry, has many years of experience and is very familiar with the region,” said Dr. Thomas Buttolph, laboratory medical director at the hospital. “Her strong foundation in basic science also provides the basis for tackling day-to-day troubleshooting of analytical issues.”

Braasch is no stranger to Columbus or the hospital. Her mother, Betty Plankinton, worked for CCH for 25 years as a cardiac nurse and house supervisor.

“Columbus is home,” Braasch said. “This position will allow me to both do the job at which I excel and be a bigger part of the community in which I grew up.”

Braasch and her husband, Kurt, have been married for 30 years. They are the proud parents of three boys: Jon, 27; Donald, 25; and Joey, 19. Jon is a law student at Creighton University, Donald is a Marine in San Diego and Joey plays football for the University of Wyoming. Braasch and her husband are also grandparents to Owen, 6.

“I am looking forward to getting to know all of the laboratory staff and becoming part of a great team,” Braasch said.

The hospital’s laboratory has accreditation from the College of American Pathologists (CAP), the world’s largest organization of board-certified pathologists and the leading provider of laboratory accreditation and proficiency testing programs. CAP-accredited laboratories are known for their high standard of care, staff qualifications, equipment, facilities, safety programs and overall management. The CCH laboratory is one of more than 8,000 CAP-accredited facilities worldwide. 

For more information on Columbus Community Hospital and its laboratory, please visit www.columbushosp.org.