CSM Newsroom

CSM Holds Virtual "White Coat Ceremony" to Celebrate Next Generation of Laboratory Healthcare Heroes

May 19, 2020

facetime collage

Picture in the top row from left to celebrate achievements in the Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) program at CSM are MLT Program Coordinator Professor Tiffany Gill; graduate Brianna McKenna and her mother; and graduate Nicole Appleby and her parents.  In the middle row from left are graduate Kimberly Campbell and her daughter; graduate Kathleen McDowall and her mother; and former MLT adjunct faculty member Terri Domenici.  In the bottom row is graduate Desirae Dennis and her family.

The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) held a virtual “White Coat Ceremony” May 18 to recognize and applaud its five Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) students who will soon graduate with their associate of applied science degrees. The students will join the nation’s MLT healthcare workers on the front lines where lab work has never been more important as it is today in helping the world identify and cope with the current COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are so proud of these amazing women who are joining the healthcare team to be the next generation of laboratory healthcare heroes,” said CSM MLT Program Coordinator and Professor Tiffany Gill. “This virtual ceremony was special this year because family members were able to take an active role in participating in the ceremony.”

This cohort of students worked closely to finish their requirements in a virtual environment during Maryland’s stay at home orders. The group made the best of the situation by trying to connect outside of the remote classroom too – as seen when they joined the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science to participate in the National Virtual 5K race to highlight Medical Laboratory Professionals week, April 19-25. The MLT team filmed their individual efforts (see video below) in support of the race.

The following CSM MLT students were recognized during the ‘White Coat Ceremony’:

Brianna McKenna

Nicole Appleby

Kimberly Campbell

Kathleen McDowall

Desirae Dennis

The MLT Program is one of many of the CSM Health Guided Pathways that students can take for a career in the medical professions. Encompassing credit degree programs like nursing, massage therapy, EMS, MLT and more, the Health Pathway also offers a variety of career starter and continuing education workforce training certificates in specialties like phlebotomy, CNA/GNA, and ECG/EKG Technicians; and medical assistants and phlebotomists can get certified in a matter of weeks or months.

Learn more about CSM’s Guided Pathways at https://www.csmd.edu/programs-courses/pathways/

Learn more about CSM’s Medical Laboratory Technology Program Pathway at https://www.csmd.edu/programs-courses/credit/academic-divisions/hea/medical-laboratory-technology/

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