“2015 was a rough start,” It’s a simple statement, but it carries the weight of countless late nights, logistical nightmares, and an unwavering belief in something bigger.
For Catherine and her husband, Van, founding LabMinds wasn’t just about starting a business—it was about bridging the gap for healthcare staffing that stuck to a transactional relation.
As Clinical Laboratory Scientists, they had felt the weight of demanding schedules and the constant push to do more with less. They have seen colleagues struggle to navigate the complexities of international work placements, and have had firsthand experience of the challenges healthcare professionals face daily—long hours, understaffed facilities, and a growing demand for qualified talent.
They believed in a system that didn’t just connect healthcare professionals to jobs, but supported them through the entire journey—emotionally, logistically, and professionally.
The Birth of LabMinds
“Our first deployment took six to seven months, and it was from the Bahamas, not the Philippines. We initially focused on international placements, but that was incredibly tough, especially with immigration policy restrictions,” reflecting the challenges posed by the restrictive environment for immigrants at the time. “It wasn’t a favorable environment for immigrants.”
Building a Better System
LabMinds was founded on the principle that there was a better way to connect healthcare professionals with opportunities. “Everything could be better, the experience could be better.” Catherine says when asked on why they had chosen to cater to both direct hire and temporary candidates. “It was cultivated in the value of camaraderie, we were working in a diverse environment.”
Catherine notes how it’s complex because different personal preferences will exist no matter what, but it helps to be a more open-minded professional, which make a mark on how we envision our candidates (Professionals) to be. “There’s the assumption everything is easy once you’re here [in the U.S.] but it’s not. There’s a lot of adjustment.”
Initially focused on Direct-Hire Visa Sponsorship for critical-access hospitals in rural U.S. areas, the company soon expanded its services. Local recruitment, nursing, and allied medical professions became part of their growing scope, meeting the needs of both candidates and healthcare institutions.
“We saw the potential for meaningful impact,” Catherine shares. “ It’s misconceptualized as purely transactional, that’s why we wanted to emphasize being maalaga (caring), because it is a journey.” Of which Catherine expounds where one has to face numerous challenges to journey to the US, which can be daunting done alone. This is what sets LabMinds apart, the idea of ‘Bring’, not ‘Send’ people. The shift on focus being together with placements through every step, and even long after the contract is finished.
What Lies Ahead
As LabMinds celebrates its ninth anniversary, it remains focused on its mission: providing healthcare facilities with exceptional talent while prioritizing care and connection. Catherine offers advice to those looking to start their staffing journey: “It’s one of our Principles– it’s You First. Your journey, Your goal, we want to be the drive to make it possible for you and not compromise the whole experience that awaits that journey. We’re a team that cares for what your future holds.”
Looking ahead, LabMinds plans to expand its reach, refine its processes, and continue addressing the ever-evolving challenges of the healthcare industry.
Nine years in, LabMinds stands as a testament to the power of vision, resilience, and heart. The journey hasn’t been easy, but as Catherine puts it, “The other side of the journey is not something you can be ready for, but you will grow from it.” She adds, “This is what we wanted to change in that experience. Driving that change is not an easy feat or calling, but the vision is larger than the difficulty.”