What brought you to Tandem?
It was the way this company impacts the lives of people with type 1 diabetes by putting the customer first. What keeps me here is that Tandem keeps focusing on the customer and continues to innovate.
How does Tandem’s focus on the customer impact your decision making day and how you do your job?
Tandem’s focus on the customer is something that I am able to reinforce to customers and healthcare providers daily. Recently, I helped a patient use the Tandem Device Updater to get the new reverse correction feature on his insulin pump.1
With the reverse correction option, his blood sugars may benefit when he is able to reduce the total bolus insulin to be delivered – where he did not have that option before. The update took less than five minutes. He loved it and was so surprised how easy it was! He was surprised that he did not need a whole new pump like he would have as a customer of any other insulin pump company.
“This is unlike any pump company I have ever interacted with,” he told me. Hearing that from a customer really makes you feel good and just reiterates Tandem’s message of putting the customer first. I am excited to support more patients through their remote software updates.
What are your favorite things about your job?
My CUSTOMERS! It is so rewarding to train a new pumper and his or her family or support system on our product. I love to be reminded how this product is so easy to use and how it can change the life of a person living with diabetes.
What are some of the challenges of your position that you enjoy most?
Meeting so many healthcare professionals on a daily basis, and getting to know how they educate their patients on diabetes management. I have learned a lot from them and it is something I look forward to every week.
As a clinician, what brought you into industry and what advice would you give other clinicians who are considering making the switch?
The company! When I first heard about what Tandem was doing for the diabetes community I knew that I had to be part of it. I wanted to work for a company that was putting the customer first. The switch from clinic to industry comes with many changes, but the opportunities I have now and the people I have met have made it all worth it!
Tandem has been named a “Best Place to Work.” What do you think makes Tandem great?
The people who work for Tandem are like none other. Their passion and drive to help people with diabetes is unremarkable and I feel so lucky to be a part of it.
What advice would you give someone who’s looking to get into your line of work?
Go for it! You will love it!
Is there anyone at Tandem that was influential in your career development?
Ronald Palmer – My territory partner. We were hired a week apart from each other. I was new to my position in industry and Ron really taught me what it meant to do this job and how much impact I can have with my knowledge of our product and personal connection to diabetes. Having Ron as my teammate by my side every day had a huge positive impact on my career development. Knowing that I had someone to look to as a teammate really influenced my approach on advocating for insulin pump therapy as a clinician.
Anything else you’d like for us to know about you?
I can’t wait to see what Tandem does next!
Chelsie Coaster, MS, RD, CDE, received her undergraduate degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics from Michigan State University and her Masters of Science specializing in Human Nutrition from Louisiana Tech University. She has had type 1 diabetes for 25 years, and is very passionate about helping people within the diabetes community. After being diagnosed, Chelsie knew she wanted to become an educator to help positively impact the lives of families living with diabetes. Chelsie loves to meet new people and become involved in all of the different diabetes community activities her new home of California has to offer!
Find out about careers at Tandem here.
