Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics program holds white coat ceremony, marks students entering clinical practice
The West Virginia University School of Medicine’s Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics program hosted a white coat ceremony on October 3 at the Okey Patteson Auditorium at the WVU Health Sciences Center 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 healthcare professionals.
“Our Bridging Ceremony is an exciting time for our students as they eagerly anticipate their transition from the classroom and student laboratories to their clinical training,” said Jason Evans, Ph.D., MLS, associate professor and director of the Medical Laboratory Science programs. “It’s always a pleasure for faculty to be a part of their growth into integral members of the healthcare team.”
“Receiving the white coat marks students’ transition into the clinical setting where they implement the knowledge, skills, and techniques they’ve acquired with the goal of providing the highest quality patient care,” said Kim Feaster, MA, HTL(ASCP)QIHC, assistant professor and director of the Histotechnology program.
Meet our students
Nathan Murray from Elizabeth, West Virginia, a graduate student in the Medical Laboratory Sciences program, decided to pursue a master’s in MLS because he wanted to work in a clinical setting. The IMMB to MLS accelerated bachelor’s to master’s program at the School of Medicine allowed him to complete both degrees in just five years. After graduation, Murray hopes to work in a clinical laboratory.
“The professors in the MLS program have done an amazing job at teaching us the skills we need to become great medical laboratory scientists,” he said. “Their guidance will make for an easy transition from the classroom to the laboratory.”
LiLi Russell from Harrison, Ohio, is an undergraduate Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics student in the Histotechnology track. She says a highlight of her experience in the BLD program has been the coursework and lab opportunities that have given her access to specialized equipment and the opportunity to question, practice and apply her knowledge. Russell chose histotechnology as a pathway to her ultimate goal of becoming a pathologists’ assistant, and will continue her studies in the WVU Pathologists’ Assistant graduate program.
“The white coat is an exciting rite of passage that reminds me how far I’ve come and the distance yet to go in my professional journey,” Russell said. “It not only marks the start of clinical rotations, but symbolizes dedication, responsibility and hope for a purpose-filled future in the lab.”
Emily Sullivan from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is an undergraduate student in the Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics program in the Medical Laboratory Science track. She chose the BLD program because she was interested in the science behind diagnosing and treating patients, and she wanted to participate in hands-on laboratory work. After graduation, Sullivan hopes to work in a clinical laboratory setting where she’ll play a key role in healthcare by ensuring accurate results that impact patient care.
“This program has helped me to build a strong foundation in laboratory techniques, diagnostic testing, and quality control,” Sullivan said. “The hands-on experience has been amazing and has only made me love the laboratory work more and more.”
To learn more about how the BLD degree provides direct workforce opportunities or can serve as a pathway to other healthcare careers, visit medicine.wvu.edu/students/pre-health.