Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics program holds white coat ceremony, celebrates students entering clinical practice
The West Virginia University School of Medicine’s Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics program hosted a white coat ceremony on October 10 at the Okey Patteson Auditorium in Morgantown.
The ceremony recognizes undergraduate students in the Histotechnology and Medical Laboratory Science tracks and graduate students in Medical Laboratory Science. Receiving their white coats symbolizes the students’ rite of passage to becoming a healthcare professional.
“We call our ceremony ‘The Bridging Ceremony’ to symbolize the bridging of knowledge to practice as students transition from the classroom into clinical settings,” said Jason Evans, Ph.D., MLS, associate professor and interim director of the Medical Laboratory Science programs. “This ceremony is a great reminder to our students what an important part of the healthcare team they are.”
“Receiving their white coats symbolizes the responsibility they are assuming and the impact they will have on patient’s lives,” said Kim Feaster, MA, HTL(ASCP)QIHC, assistant professor and director of the Histotechnology program. “The laboratory results they provide will be instrumental in diagnosing, monitoring and treating patients contributing to high-quality healthcare.”
Meet our students
Allison Jones of Elk Garden, West Virginia, is a graduate student in the Medical Laboratory Sciences program. Jones found her love for working in the lab while earning her bachelor’s degree in biology from WVU. She chose MLS because she wanted to play a role in patient care and patient diagnoses. After graduation, she hopes to work as a generalist in a hospital laboratory.
“This program has prepared me for my future as a medical laboratory scientist by not only providing the framework in the classroom, but by allowing me to apply my knowledge and develop my skills in the student laboratory,” Jones said. “With the smaller class size, the instructors get to know you very well and make you feel comfortable to reach out for help when you need it.”
Reisan Swanger of Morgantown, West Virginia, is an undergraduate student in the Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics program in the Medical Laboratory Science track. She chose the BLD program because she wanted to help others and the hands-on, problem-solving aspect of the profession drew her in. After graduation, Swanger hopes to attend graduate school to advance her knowledge in the healthcare field.
“Receiving my white coat is surreal,” Swanger said. “The hard work and dedication of my peers and I for the past four years is finally going to be applied to clinical practice. I am eager to transition to the next phase and learn even more about the field, as I contribute to patient care.”
Gabrielle Yerace of Fairmont, West Virginia, is an undergraduate Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics student in the Histotechnology track. She says a highlight of her experience at WVU was the small class size that allowed for individualized attention. After graduation, Yerace plans to work immediately as a histotechnologist while exploring her options for graduate school.
“I chose the BLD program because the degree requirements enable students to apply to practically any graduate program and allows students to obtain employment immediately upon graduation,” Yerace said. “During my time in the BLD program, I have developed strategies in the classroom that will help me excel in my future academic pursuits and have gained the confidence and skills to work as a histotechnologist in any clinical setting.”
To learn more about the Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics program at WVU, visit medicine.wvu.edu/biomedical-laboratory-diagnostics/.