As Director of Clinical Operations at the Genome Technology Access Center at the McDonnell Genome Institute (GTAC@MGI), Shelly O’Laughlin oversees the clinical laboratory. Here, the genetic sequencing helps diagnose and guide treatment of cancer and inherited diseases. O’Laughlin’s career began in 1996, during the Human Genome Project, when she worked part-time on weekends loading sequencing instruments while earning her undergraduate degree.
“The work we do directly supports patient care by providing physicians with the high-quality, reliable data they need to make informed decisions, and that’s what motivates me most. When I began my career at WashU in 1996, I planned to take some time off from school before pursuing medicine. Thirty years later, I’m still at WashU, and I love that my career has evolved to allow me to make a meaningful impact on patient care behind the scenes.”
O’Laughlin sees her work as a direct contribution to WashU’s mission of patient care and research, advancing science and improving human health.
As a people manager, O’Laughlin believes the best way to motivate her team is to lead by example. Whether that means logging in at night or on a weekend to help prepare for the next day, she wants her team to know she is right there working alongside them. She also encourages an environment where the team works through challenges together, finds solutions and moves forward as a group.
“I believe that being present, approachable and willing to pitch in builds trust and helps everyone feel supported and valued,” O’Laughlin said.
That commitment hasn’t gone unnoticed. Kim Leahy, administrative coordinator for the Center for Translational Bioinformatics, shared what she thinks sets O’Laughlin apart
Her superior work ethic, her relationships with her employees and her devotion to the job.
Kim Leahy, administrative coordinator for the Center for Translational Bioinformatics
After three decades, it is the people who keep O’Laughlin at WashU. She describes the university as a second family, one that has supported her through some of life’s most difficult moments.
“I genuinely love coming to work and being surrounded by such an amazing group of people,” O’Laughlin said. “This may not be where I imagined myself 30 years ago, but I’m incredibly grateful that this is where my journey has taken me.”
Outside of work, she enjoys time with family and friends. She is an avid crafter who makes homemade greeting cards, scrapbooks and paints. One of her favorite things to do is see musicals with her son, and whenever she can, she heads to her favorite place, the Great Smoky Mountains.