March 12, 2024
Graduating with her degree in Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) in 2020, Shawnee State University alumna Daisy Grooms immediately entered the workforce, finding employment at the top pediatric oncology center in the United States – Cincinnati Children’s Hospital for the Cancer & Blood Disease Institute. The West Union, Ohio native works in the Immunopathology Laboratory, where she uses flow cytometry to definitively diagnose lymphoma and leukemia, as well as monitor progression and treatment status.
“I sort of fell into the MLT program by chance,” she said. “When first graduating high school, I attended a different college to be a music teacher but decided it wasn’t for me. Then, life got busy, and I enrolled at SSU when I was 27. I met with my advisor, and we talked about my interests and the credits I already had.”
Grooms knew she wanted a job that was in-demand and would support her family. When weighing out all her options, her advisor suggested the MLT program.
“Once in the program, I was amazed,” she said. “There are so many paths you can take with this degree and the variations between facilities in duties is vast.”
Medical Laboratory Technologists are the science and chemistry behind the blood work and laboratory testing practitioners use to make diagnoses, make therapeutic decisions, or to monitor patients' health and wellness. They are an integral component of the health care team, just not as visible to the patient as the work is done behind the scenes. In SSU’s program, students not only gain hands-on experience through practical training in their last semester, but they also build a career with possibilities for advancement.
Enjoying her career path, Grooms gives her utmost gratitude to program faculty Jean McGlone and Andrea Zaph, that made her experience educational, yet memorable.
“Jean and Andrea were fantastic the entire time,” she said. “They really get to know you, and they genuinely care about their students while teaching you what you need to know.”
Grooms is also enrolled in the online Health Science degree program at SSU, pursuing her bachelor’s degree with the help of her employer. After her experience in the associate degree program, she felt confident her alma mater was the perfect fit for her to further her education again.
“The professors are wonderful and the education you receive really opens doors,” she said. “I would definitely recommend the MLT program at SSU.”
For more information on the Medical Laboratory Technology program at Shawnee State University, visit shawnee.edu/mlt.