Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics Program SPRING 2010
Newsletter for Alumni and Friends
From the Program Director... By John Gerlach (‘76, ‘84) BLD Program Director Hello to all! I had hoped to draft this early in January and here it is well into 2010 and I am just now doing it. If you John Gerlach read between the lines, I am either a procrastinator or life at MSU is busy. While it is probably a mixture of both, I will claim a lot of activity. It is a busy time here in the Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics Program and we wanted to bring our alumni up-to-date on recent events. The name of the program may be unfamiliar to some alumni as it has been a few years since the last newsletter and during that time we had a name change. The former Medical Technology Program is now the Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics Program. The change reflects some of the changes we have gone through in recent years. We now have three undergraduate majors: Medical Technology (soon to called Biomedical Laboratory Science), Clinical Laboratory Science, and Diagnostic Molecular Science. The latter two are both NAACLS accredited programs. We have 400 undergraduate students in these three degree programs. This number keeps growing as more students recognize the value of a degree in laboratory science as a key to success in future careers in healthcare or life science research. Our graduate programs also continue
to grow. We currently offer two masters degrees, Clinical Laboratory Science and Biomedical Laboratory Operations, and both have online options. This affords us an excellent recruiting opportunity as we are able to attract some of the best students in the country. There are currently more than 30 masters degree students enrolled and we continue to get an ever-growing number of applicants. To help adjust for the demand and growth, our faculty are looking at creating a structured masters degree in Biomedical Laboratory Science that would be comprised solely of course work but have rigor across the curriculum. This will allow candidates to enhance their management skills and update their science foundation without a thesis project. In addition to our degree programs, the BLD faculty have made an emphatic commitment to post-baccalaureate educational opportunities for the working laboratory professional. We have a wide range of course offerings in molecular diagnostics, immunodiagnostics, cell biology, laboratory management and transfusion medicine. The combination of some courses can lead to the awarding of certificates of completion and all are solid instructional foundations to enhance the mastery of the topics. This is an area where we see active growth as it provides a tremendous resource for professionals as well as the program. Budgets on campus are tight and do guide some program decisions, yet our strong faculty commitment to providing high-quality educational programs and experiences is uncompromised. The work ethic and commitment of our faculty is impressive, and nobody in the program
uses the diminished resources as an excuse to compromise. We continue to get positive feedback from alumni, working professionals and administrators of the College and University. We look forward to celebrating our 85th year on campus next year. Yes, the program has been here since 1926 and has achieved success in each of its academic homes on campus - beginning with the College of Human Medicine, then the College of Veterinary Medicine, and our current home in the College of Natural Science. The celebration will begin the Fall semester of 2011 and we encourage you to participate (see the companion article on page 6). We have lots of news and updates to share in this newsletter. I hope you have the time to read them and I highly encourage you to contact us with your comments and feedback. We truly see the alumni as a foundation of the program and it is your input that helps us prioritize how to best serve our students and the profession. There are many ways to connect to us -- phone, email, Facebook and LinkedIn. Let us know what you are doing and also what you think about what we are doing or‌..what we should be doing. Your support is a tremendous resource to our students, faculty and alumni.
W W W. B L D . M S U . E D U
Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics Alumni Association By R. J. Benson President, BLD Alumni Association
I look at today’s date [011110] and it looks like some kind of binary expression. To me, it’s a reminder of our digital environment. As reinforcement to my observation that we have amazing technology resources easily available, I can give you the example of how I spent 2 hours over the weekend in my home office. I downloaded and installed an upgrade to one of my cameras, shared photos with a photographer in Spain, posted a video of my dogs playing with their Frisbees in the back yard on YouTube, added a television show to the recording menu of my TiVo and paid a few bills through my credit union (oh yeah, sent and read emails and checked the overnight low temperatures for my morning commute). My point is that I can do things and communicate without leaving my chair. Hold that thought for later. The MSU Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics Alumni Association is in need of reactivation. We had a few gatherings of the Board and tried to connect with our members at the last spring meeting of the Michigan Society for Clinical Laboratory Science
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(MSCLS) with marginal success. The planning meetings for the Alumni Association required that Board members had to agree on a meeting date, then schedule time away from family and work, commute to campus and head back home. For some, the drive was short, but for others, the commute was a significant barrier to participation. We are to the point where technology can help us become active again. We want to solicit volunteers to become BLDAA Board members, elect a President and become an active Alumni Association again. We can do this even if our volunteers are scattered across the map (as MSU grads tend to be). Ideally, we would have Board members from each region/quadrant/time zone/section of the country. What’s to stop that from happening? I can’t think of a reason. Meetings of our new Board can be held using our technology and your internet connection, which in no way precludes gathering on campus to again see the smiling faces of other Alumni members, but the drive, park and drive again becomes an option, not a requirement.
As is usually the case, there is much happening. The BLD program continues to prepare graduates to function in the laboratory of today (which is far different than the laboratory of 10 years ago). They will possess the “code of our times” for operating in a contemporary diagnostic environment (quite a challenge for faculty and students). There will also be opportunities for Alumni members to interact with the current students via the BLD Student Association (euchre parties are one example; alums euchre skills are legendary), but we also have a milestone to prepare for, specifically the 85th Anniversary of the BLD program, which will not pass without a celebration. Please consider either volunteering or nominating a worthy Spartan. Send your nominations for Board members to rjbenson@ msu.edu and let’s get connected again. GO GREEN! R.J. Benson, ‘78, is Section Chief, Bureau of Health Systems in the Division of Licensing & Certification at the Michigan Department of Community Health.
Online Certificates Part of Michigan’s No Worker Left Behind As a part of a state-sponsored program, medical laboratory professionals in Michigan may be eligible for tuition assistance to update their skills through online Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics classes. Current medical laboratory professionals in Michigan who qualify for the No Worker Left Behind program can receive money to learn to meet modern demands of molecular and immunodiagnostic laboratories. The two programs offered online are the Certificate Program in Molecular Laboratory Diagnostics and the Certificate Program in Immunodiagnostics and Clinical Flow Cytometry. Many participants have used the MSU certificate programs as part of their self-study for national certifying examinations. The certificate programs also provide valuable preparation for work in modern medical and biological laboratories for graduate and upper-level undergraduate students in the biological sciences. The Molecular Laboratory Diagnostics Certificate program consists of three, 2-credit classes: Concepts in Molecular
Biology, Clinical Application of Molecular Biology, and Molecular Pathology Laboratory. The Immunodiagnostics and Clinical Flow Cytometry Certificate program has three, 2-credit classes: Immunodiagnostics, Clinical Applications of Immunodiagnostics, and Immunodiagnostics Laboratory. The No Worker Left Behind program was created to help Michigan workers succeed through education, training and lifelong learning. For more information, contact BLD’s Mark Bitman at (517) 353-9225 or visit a local Michigan Works! office to determine your eligibility.
Sparty Party at the MSCLS Conference
Help Support BLD
As part of an annual tradition, the Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics Alumni Association invites all alumni to the Sparty Party held in conjunction with the Michigan Society for Clinical Laboratory Science’s Annual Conference. Alumni are invited to reconnect with old friends, meet new friends and talk with current students. The event will feature complimentary food and refreshments as well as a raffle to raise money for student scholarships. The Sparty Party is on April 15 from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center in East Lansing. While it is a part of the MSCLS conference, alumni do not have to register for the conference to attend the Sparty Party. For more information on the Sparty Party, go to www.bld.msu.edu.
If you want to join me in supporting the long-term, financial viability of BLD, I suggest contributions to one of the BLD endowments. Your gift to this fund will forever support essential components of the BLD program at Michigan State. All size gifts are appreciated and you can use the envelope provided or go to givingto.msu.edu. Thank you. - John Gerlach
Michigan State University
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News Faces at BLD By John Gerlach The BLD program welcomed several new people recently. These individuals have a variety of roles in working with students, managing class and curricula and being involved with alumni relations. We hope you will join us in welcoming them.
From left ot right, new to the BLD program are Mollie Tubbs, Mark Bitman and Susan McQuiston.
The Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics Program newsletter is published annually by the College of Natural Science for alumni and friends. Copyright 2010 Michigan State University. MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Send correspondence to: College of Natural Science Advancement Office, 103 Natural Science Building, East Lansing, MI 48824-1115. Ph (517) 432-4561, E-mail: NatSci4u@msu.edu Contributing writers: R.J. Benson, John Gerlach, Gordon Shetler, Mike Steger Photography and Images: Mark Bitman, Gordon Shetler, Mike Steger, Istockphoto
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Mark Bitman joined the BLD program Spring semester of 2009. He is the curriculum assistant and, within a year, has become indispensable. The faculty rely upon him for both on-campus and off-campus course offerings. He has become the liaison for our off-campus graduate and lifelong students. Mark came to BLD from the College of Nursing where he had a similar role. Mark has produced and coordinated a virtual orientation program that encompasses all levels of the university for our on-line graduate students. He has interviewed the University President, Dean of the Graduate College, Dean of the College of Natural Science and the BLD faculty. It is a warm and complete welcoming package and more importantly, it is unique within the university. Mark is also responsible for the revamping of our web page. Mark, it is great to have your skills and personality present. Mollie Tubbs, MS ‘08, joined BLD as a Research Assistant in the Spring of 2009 also. Her role is to support the research activities of Drs. Cendrowski, Hoag and Mendoza. What does this mean?
Her role is providing continuity in their research programs across graduate students, as well as releasing these busy faculty from routine tasks so they can further pursue their scholarly work. Faculty report that she is making an impact and the increased grant submissions to extramural agencies are proof. That is important in the scope of the university, their careers and the “health” of the program. Mollie thanks for all the hard work. Susan McQuiston, (‘79) MS, JD, joined BLD in the Summer of 2009. McQuiston was hired into a fixed-term faculty position to provide instructional support to the program. She hit the ground running this Fall semester taking the lead role in BLD 213, our introductory laboratory course, and truthfully there were very few other courses she did not have a hand in. This semester is no different. She is teaching across the curriculum and also provides advising support to the program. Sue will be the instructor of record for many of the laboratory courses in the program and we are glad she chose to join the faculty.
Covance Works with MSU The BLD program and Michigan State University was recently selected by Covance as one of the company’s Tier-1 schools for recruiting. Covance is a global contract research organization and supplier of drug development services to the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Covance’s involvement will begin with recruiting students to fill summer mentorship positions. These positions will attract sophomore and junior level students and provide them with exposure to all aspects of the Covance operation, both business and science. “Covance is looking to ‘grow their own’ lab managers,” said Brian Telfor, career services coordinator for the College of Natural Science. “Involving students early on is a key element of their program, and each student intern will be partnered with a leader in the company acting as a mentor.” In addition to internships, the company is also looking for recent graduates and alumni who are interested in careers at the company. “They also hope to recruit certified individuals and are very interested in our graduate students,” said Karen Hess, clinical coordinator and academic advisor in the BLD program. Covance recruiters and leaders met with BLD program advisors during a two-day visit to campus
in January. The focus of the visit was to learn specifics about the BLD program, the curriculum and to strengthen relationships with the faculty. The visit also included several recruiting seminars for students for their specialty areas. During the visit, MSU students participated in presentations on the drug development process and how scientific degrees contribute to medical success. The students were able to hear first-hand what it’s like to work for Covance and were given the opportunity to ask career-oriented questions of scientists on the front line of the fight against disease and illness. “By better understanding exactly what our students learn in our programs and then working with us to build a strong relationship, we can best prepare our students for a solid career,” said John Gerlach, program director. “This relationship is helping us provide real-world skills so our students enter the workforce prepared and running.”
BLD’s Karen Hess (center) with recruiters from Covance during their campus visit in January.
Job Listings and Networking The BLD program has two online services to assist alumni in their careers. A job listing web page lists positions for lab professionals and is updated frequently. Hospitals, labs or other related businesses are invited to participate for free and have their positions advertised to students and alumni. Access the page from www.bld.msu.edu. BLD has also launched a group on the professional social networking site LinkedIn.com. The group is open to all alumni and students in the program, and is proving to be a useful tool for connecting with professionals and finding jobs around the world. More than 500 alumni are members of the College of Natural Science LinkedIn group, and BLD alumni are encouraged to join both the CNS group and the BLD group. To join, go to: http://bit.ly/MSUBLD.
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Alumni to be Part of 85th Anniversary Next year will mark the 85th anniversary of the Medical Technology/Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics Program at Michigan State, and Fall 2011 will mark the beginning of special programs celebrating the anniversary. In 1926, the curriculum for the Medical Technology Program began in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State College. The program began as part of veterinary medicine as a unit of the Department of Pathology. Years later, the program was under the administration of the College of Human Medicine before moving to its current administrative home in the College of Natural Science. While the administration of the program has changed throughout the years, the goal of preparing clinical laboratory science leaders has remained constant. To reflect the current times, the program is no longer called the Medical Technology Program and was recently renamed the Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics (BLD) Program. BLD is the academic home to 400 graduate and undergraduate students. BLD offers bachelors degrees in Medical Technology, Diagnostic Molecular Science and Clinical Laboratory Science. Masters degrees offered are in Clinical Laboratory Science and Biomedical Laboratory Operations.
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In the Fall of 2011, BLD will celebrate the 85th anniversary of the program with a number of events, including a football tailgate party, an alumni seminar series, and an anniversary celebration event. BLD is currently seeking alumni interested in speaking to students as part of the alumni seminar series. We are scheduling alumni who will return to campus and present seminars on varied topics related to the field. Whether you have decades of experience or are just starting your career, we hope you will consider participating. Contact John Gerlach if you are interested. We will also host an event in the Spring of 2012 to bring alumni and students together in celebrating the anniversary. The program will include a few lectures (don’t worry, no exams or note taking required) on topics historical, current and futuristic surrounding the program and the profession. Keep an eye on the website and your mailbox for more details. Alumni are forever part of the program, and we hope you will plan to join us to celebrate.
Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics Program
Pictured from the 75th anniversary are alumni (left to right) Denise Deschaine-Zuke (‘78), Lynn Maedel (‘79), Betty Schoepke (‘63), Cindy Johns (‘75) and Ida Sutton (‘78).
Sparty and Margaret Smith (‘53) at the 75th anniversary reunion for the program.
Recent alumni who completed the clinical program at Henry Ford Hospital. Pictured from left to right: Michael Castiglione, Clinical Coordinator Deborah Chapman, Rebekah Martin, Max Louzon, Joe Dolland.
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES Darci Lee (Carlson) Murphy, ’74, is a Barbara Alspaugh, ’80, has recently private practice veterinarian in Medford, been elected to the Sparrow Hospital Oregon. Women’s Board of Managers and is the President of the St. Lawrence Gift Shop/ Sharon Moore, ’75, has been working Mary Magdalen League. for 6 years on the Armed Forces Health Longitudinal Technology Application Rosie Falcon, ’80, is a senior pathologists’ assistant in San Diego, the first system to allow for the central storage of standardized electronic Calif., and chair of the Legislative health record data that is available Committee of the American Association of Pathologists’ Assistants. for worldwide sharing of patient information. Patricia Francis-Schramm, ’83, is Terri Wyzgoski, ’76, is an Environmental a pediatrician in a practice with 5 Health Scientist and has worked in the additional doctors in Columbus, Ohio. Food and Drink Section of Douglas County Health Department in Omaha, Henry Randall, ’84, is a transplant Nebraska, since 1989. surgeon at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. Beginning April, Michael Nido, ’77, has been practicing he will embark on a new endeavor as for the past 13 years with Carolina Chief of Transplantation and Surgical Neurosurgery and Spine Associates in Director of Abdominal Transplantation Charlotte, North Carolina - a group of at Saint Luke’s Hospital and the 21 Neurosurgeons and 21 mid-level University of Missouri Kansas City. practitioners. Matthew Vertin, ’85, is celebrating Sue Gove Merten, ’78, is teaching 20 years in private dental practice in middle school science in an urban Dearborn Heights, Mich. Catholic school in Chicago and was awarded a 2009-10 NSTA /Astella Don Ondersma, ’89, is a Medical Technologist at Reedsburg Area Medical fellowship for new teachers. Center and St. Clare Hospital in Carol (Sass) McPherson, ’79, is Director Wisconsin. of Biology Laboratories at Kalamazoo College, and has held the position for Julia (Damaschke) Pierce, ’89, is a Program Manager for OPTI Medical nearly 25 years. Her daughter, Dayna, is a sophomore in the BLD program at Systems and has spent the last two years focused on developing and launching MSU. a new chemistry analyzer for the Lawrence Treece, ’79, is president of veterinary market. Health Care Associates in Grand Rapids and recently opened Harbor Care Aundrea Burns, ’91, graduated from the Associates in Traverse City and Petoskey. University of Detroit Mercy Physician All locations will serve private duty Assistant Program in 2003 and is a physician assistant in emergency clients as well as Medicaid clients. medicine at Henry Ford Health Systems.
Daniel Schoenborn,’00, completed an Internal Medicine residency at Botsford Hospital in Farmington Hills, Mich., and is in a second year of a Gastroenterology Fellowship at Botsford. Jonathon Faber, ’02, is in his second year of a family medicine residency at Providence Hospital in Southfield, Mich. Kristina (Wesener) Martin, ’02, MS ’07, is the Specimen Processing Supervisor at University of Michigan Hospital and oversees the processing area and approximately 60 staff members. Kelly Welsh, ’04, has just started an Emergency Medicine Residency at Pontiac Osteopathic Hospital. Lauren Brandeburg, ’05, MS ’09, is the MLT program director at Baker College in Allen Park, Mich. Beth (Pratt) DuRoss, ’07, is a pharmacogenetic scientist at Michigan Technology & Research Institute in Ann Arbor, and specializes in pharmacogenetic genotyping and assay design. Han Le, ’07, is a Laboratory Systems Analyst in the Pathology Informatics Department at Henry Ford Health Systems. Cody Rickman,’08, is an investigator for the Kansas City District Office of the Food and Drug Administration. Kisha McPherson, ’09, is in an internship program at St. John Hospital in Detroit.
Michigan State University
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Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics Program c/o College of Natural Science 103 Natural Science Building East Lansing, MI 48824-1115
BLD Student Group Recruits Organ Donors The Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics Student Association has participated in the Gift of Life statewide challenge to recruit organ donors to the Michigan organ and tissue donation program since its inception in 2004. The student group works hard each year to sign up the most people on the Gift of Life Organ, Tissue & Eye Donor Registry. The students canvas the campus by visiting classes and personally recruiting students to sign up. Their work has paid off as MSU students have won the challenge among Michigan colleges and universities every year except one. Gift of Life Michigan is the state’s full-service organ and tissue recovery organization that acts as the intermediary between donors, physicians and hospital staff. Gift of Life Michigan, in collaboration with the Michigan Eye-Bank, provides all services necessary for organ, tissue and eye donation. “The students strategy and commitment to
Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land recognized BLD faculty and students in 2009 for their efforts in recruiting organ donors.
the Gift of Life makes the entire program proud,” said Kathy Doig, associate dean of the College of Natural Science and former director of the BLD program at Michigan State.