WOMEN IN THE REGION

Caring and Inclusion

THROUGH COVID

Mayo Clinic’s Moua Torgerson brings organizational and cultural experience to her role facilitating testing and vaccination.

BY HEIDI BLANKE

PHOTO BY TERESA HASE, MAYO CLINIC HEALTH SYSTEM

If you received either Covid-19 testing or a vaccination at Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse, Moua Torgerson likely had a hand in getting you through the process. As an assistant supervisor in the Office of Access Management there, she helped ensure the Covid program succeeded. In addition, she is a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee and chairs the Share subcommittee.

A HISTORY OF HELPING

The third of 10 children, Torgerson is a Central High School graduate who had to put off college to help care for her siblings and ailing father. However, this fall, she starts school full-time at Western Technical College majoring in health care administration, all while maintaining her current job. Ultimately, Torgerson plans to earn a master’s degree at Viterbo University.

The past year, she notes, has been one of constant changes, made more difficult as the world turned virtual. Typically, she says, she “likes to be there and show you hands-on.”

Torgerson’s perseverance shines through in the way she speaks and the words she uses. “I never feel like a question is a stupid question because change happens so much,” she says. “I try to give people a lot of grace. I know how hard it is to not get all the information you need.”

SCHEDULING FOR COVID

With Covid, Torgerson expanded her work responsibilities. “Last October, I took on the testing site in La Crosse, so I helped with the scheduling process,” she explains. While the novel undertaking required trial and error at first, she says it fell into place quickly to run smoothly.

As a Hmong community member, Torgerson was instrumental in breaking the language and culture barriers for encouraging vaccination, reaching out through the Hmong radio channel and other outlets. “If you need a vaccine, here’s my phone number, call me,” she says. “I was shocked at how many phone calls I got, so I was happy to get them scheduled. When I saw them come in, I was really excited.”

FOSTERING DIVERSITY AND UNDERSTANDING

The pride and joy of Torgerson’s work is her involvement with the Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Her subcommittee, Share, brings people together “to get to know what it’s like to be diverse,” she says. “It’s not just skin color. It’s a hard subject. It’s a hard conversation, but having someone come and talk about that experience can help you understand someone and what it is like every day for them.”

Torgerson is no stranger to racism. As a high school student, an advisor discouraged her from applying to a university, telling her a two-year school is “where your kind goes.” One of the results, she says, is “you get imposter syndrome. I found out that it happened to many other students.”

She doesn’t want that for her siblings. “I’m really vocal, and I will call you out to say that’s not appropriate,” she says. “I will not stand down or tolerate that kind of attitude. It’s been hard.”

PROUDLY MOVING FORWARD

The last year, Torgerson notes, seems to have increased the level of microaggressions in the Coulee Region toward people of color. Still, she sees an opportunity at Mayo to grow her leadership skills, promoting health and a better understanding of tolerance and inclusion. CRW

Heidi Griminger Blanke is a La Crosse freelance writer and is grateful to everyone connected with helping residents receive the Covid vaccination. She is thrilled to be with her vaccinated friends and family again and hopes the world has learned a lesson about pandemic preparedness.