From physics to patient care: How Sarah (Anderson) Lindh ’08 delivers life-saving cancer treatment

Sarah Lindh ’08 grew up with a deep-rooted passion for science—an interest sparked early by a family filled with engineers. She developed a strong passion for physics early on and knew that science was the field she wanted to pursue. Still, Bethel wasn’t originally part of her plan. Both parents and several cousins were Bethel alumni, and she was determined to carve out her own path. But after visiting several other colleges, her final campus tour at Bethel shifted her perspective—and ultimately changed her mind.

Lindh recalls how her first encounter with Bethel’s physics department left a lasting impression. During a prospective student visit, Brian Beecken, department chair and professor of physics and engineering, shared his enthusiasm in her interest and outlined the department’s many opportunities—from hands-on lab experiences to undergraduate research. “It was clear I’d get a great education,” she says. “It just felt like the right fit. I saw that they had a really strong physics department, and I already knew I was interested in that route. So it made perfect sense.” 

Once enrolled, Lindh was immediately immersed in research offered by the department. Bethel had just hired a new faculty member to develop an atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO) physics lab—it’s a field that explores how light interacts with atoms and molecules and how photons can be used to probe, cool, or trap particles on an incredibly small scale. As a student, she helped set up the lab’s first equipment, including the lithium magneto-optical trap, laying the groundwork for future experiments involving lasers and optics. 

This experience had a long-lasting impact on Lindh. Not only did it deepen her technical understanding of optics and quantum behavior, but it also gave her early access to the kind of research that typically comes much later in the educational path. “Bethel gave me the chance to do graduate-level work as an undergrad,” she says. “That was huge. I had the opportunity to present at conferences and do hands-on research in labs.” 

She also participated in Bethel’s Pietas Honors Program, which further broadened her academic experience and strengthened her ability to think across disciplines. “What I’ve noticed in my field is that people who are successful aren’t just good at science,” she says. “They’re good at communicating, writing, and managing their time. Bethel gave me opportunities to grow in all of those areas.” She also credits the faculty for motivating and encouraging the students, something she treasured herself. “Having that very personal encouragement, aside from just the technical aspect of teaching physics and equations—it was all so helpful to me. The fact that they believed and expressed encouragement in my abilities was empowering, and to this day I still keep in touch with several of my professors,” she says. It was also during her undergraduate years that she met her husband, Cory Lindh ’08, a fellow physics student and Bethel alum.

After graduating from Bethel, Lindh pursued a Ph.D. in physics at the University of Michigan, focusing on laser cooling and trapping atoms. “Using laser light, we can slow atoms down to the speed of a mosquito and trap them,” she explains. When atoms are cold and still, they can be manipulated with extraordinary precision. This kind of control is essential in cutting-edge technologies like quantum computing, atomic clocks, and high-precision sensors. Lindh’s doctoral work contributed to improving how atoms could be prepared and held for experiments, helping push the boundaries of what’s possible in quantum research.

While conducting her research, Lindh realized that her Bethel experience had equipped her with the essential skills needed to thrive in the workforce. “Beyond the technical side, Bethel’s liberal arts approach helped me develop softer skills that are just as critical in a scientific career. The most successful people I’ve seen aren’t just technically skilled. They know how to write. They know how to communicate. They manage their time. They prioritize. And Bethel helped me build all of that,” she says. 

Lindh received multiple fellowships during graduate school, including one from the U.S. Department of Energy. While Lindh found the research intellectually satisfying, she also craved something more immediate—a tangible connection to the people her work could help. A turning point came through a mentor during graduate school. “My mentor was a graduate student a few years ahead of me, and she decided to go into medical physics. That’s how I learned about the field,” Lindh says. The appeal was immediate. “In fundamental physics research, the work is important, but the impact might not be seen for decades. In medical physics, the impact is tangible every day.” 

That realization led Lindh to explore the medical field further. Eager to explore a new path, Lindh visited Mayo Clinic, which had one of the few medical physics residency programs open to applicants without a medical background. She applied and was accepted into their radiation oncology residency. 

Over the next three years, Lindh trained as a medical physicist at Mayo, working closely with physicians, nurses, and radiation therapists. “The primary role of a medical physicist is to ensure that radiation is delivered safely and accurately during cancer treatment,” she says. “It’s incredibly precise work. You’re applying radiation to the body to kill tumor cells, but if you get it wrong, you can harm the patient. Physicists play a crucial role in making sure that doesn’t happen.”

Lindh completed her residency and went on to work at Mayo’s Proton Therapy Center in Rochester. There, she helped deliver advanced treatments using proton beams—a newer, more targeted form of radiation therapy. Proton therapy differs from conventional X-rays by depositing radiation more precisely into tumors while sparing surrounding healthy tissue—a difference that can be critical for pediatric patients or when tumors are near vital organs. Then in 2018, an opportunity arose closer to home: a clinic of Mayo’s radiation oncology program in Northfield needed a physicist. She decided to make the move and has been serving patients there ever since.

At the Northfield clinic, Lindh uses more conventional X-ray-based treatments but continues to rely on the same rigorous principles of medical physics. Each patient’s treatment plan is customized, requiring careful calibration, technology management, and interdisciplinary communication. “Technology in this field is evolving rapidly,” she says. “A big part of my role is understanding new systems and helping communicate them so others in the clinic—physicians, therapists, nurses—know how to use them effectively and safely.”

Her job is both technical and relational. Lindh finds meaning not only in the precision of the work, but also in its purpose. “If you had told me as a student at Bethel that I’d work in medicine, I would’ve laughed,” she says. “I didn’t think I’d be comfortable working so closely with patients. But now, it’s incredibly fulfilling to know the work I do helps people during some of the hardest times in their lives.”

Looking back, Lindh says Bethel was instrumental in her journey—not only for its strong academics, but also for its personal investment in students. “The professors are great teachers and experts in their fields, but are also deeply invested in you as a person,” she says. “They encouraged me, challenged me, and supported me through every step.”

She now shares that encouragement with students considering careers in physics, engineering, or science. “If you’re interested in physics, Bethel is a great choice,” she says. “Even if you don’t plan to go into academia, you’ll be well prepared. I thought I’d teach at a small liberal arts college, but I ended up in medicine. Bethel gave me the strong foundation to make that shift.”

Lindh’s career path has never followed a straight line. It’s been about curiosity, adaptability, and a willingness to say “yes” to unexpected opportunities. In her case, that path led from setting up laser experiments in a new Bethel lab to delivering life-saving care to cancer patients. 

Build a Career in Physics or Engineering at Bethel

Inspired by Sarah Lindh’s journey? At Bethel, you can choose from majors like Applied Physics (with emphases in biomedical, computational, electronics, mechanics, and optics), Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Software Engineering, and Physics (B.A. and B.S.). You’ll gain hands-on experience and a faith-based foundation to launch your career in STEM.

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