Get to know Lori Hillin, a vital member of the Pre-Clinical team at HeartWorks! Born and raised in Reno, Nevada, Lori made the move to Rochester in January 2018 with her husband and their chihuahua mix. The chill of Minnesota was unlike anything they had previously experienced. Since then, their furry family has grown to include a 5-year-old tabby cat and an energetic 8-month-old German Shepherd puppy. Outside of work, you can often find Lori and her family enjoying hikes or immersing herself in the world of fantasy literature.
Lori officially joined the HeartWorks team with Mayo Clinic July 2024, bringing a wealth of animal care expertise. However, her involvement with the program began even earlier, assisting with piglet rearing before she was an official member of the team. She now holds the dual role of Veterinary Technician and Research Technologist.
In her daily work, Lori is integral to the smooth operation of pre-clinical research at HeartWorks. Her responsibilities range from providing daily care for the animals to meticulously preparing for pre-clinical procedure days. Currently, she is actively involved in an efficacy study with Dr. Zhang and is also collaborating on the assembly of IACUC protocols.
What truly inspires Lori is witnessing the collaborative spirit of the team. She finds it particularly rewarding to see the initial ideas and plans for pre-clinical protocols come to fruition. The progress of the “heart in a box” project has been particularly incredible to witness.
Lori’s passion for animals extends far beyond the workplace. With a strong commitment to ensuring good and humane care, she has worked as an animal care technician for multiple research organizations. Driven by this dedication, she pursued and achieved certification as a veterinary technician to deepen her knowledge and contribute even more to the well-being of research animals.
Looking to the future at HeartWorks, Lori is excited to see the current projects she’s involved in reach their conclusions and to discover the new avenues they may lead to. She is also considering furthering her education to enhance her contributions to the team even more.
HeartWorks is thrilled to have Lori’s dedication and expertise as part of our team. Her commitment to animal welfare and her proactive approach makes her a valuable asset to our research endeavors.
