Last week, Guidance Counselors from around the Ohio Valley attended a Lunch N Learn hosted by Trinity Health System School of Medical Laboratory Science. Pictured–Back: Julia Macaluso and Sherrie Garner, Oak Glen High School; Leah Eft, Edison High School; Connie Moore, Program Director of the School of MLS; Jami Cammer, Buckeye Local High School; Mary Dagan and Alivia Miller, MLS students. Front: Maureen Taggert and Betsy Jones, Toronto High School; Jamie Ross and Tiffany Dobson, Catholic Central High School. Not pictured is Susan Potvin, Jefferson County Christian School.

Steubenville, Ohio – October 22, 2024 – On Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, Trinity Health System School of Medical Laboratory Science held a Lunch N Learn for area high school Guidance Counselors in hopes of raising awareness about the field of medical laboratory science as well as the program offered by the hospital system. 

“The lab is often overlooked by those seeking to gain employment in health care, but the results generated by laboratory scientists help drive decisions on how patients are diagnosed and treated,” Connie Moore, Program Director, said. 

She presented information about the 11-month program, which is offered to Youngstown State University seniors who are majoring in MLS or to any college graduate with a Biology degree who meets entry requirements. 

“I hope the information received by the guidance counselors will be used to encourage those students who want a career in health care but are not familiar with the field, to pursue an MLS or Biology degree in college,” Moore said.

Vincenzo DiCarlantonio, HR Coordinator- Talent Acquisition, Trinity Health System, was also present and spoke about employment opportunities at the laboratory and other allied health positions. 

Sherrie Garner, MA, School Counselor, and Julia Macaluso, MSW, lGSW, School Counselor, both at Oak Glen High School in New Cumberland, W.Va., found the Lunch N Learn to be helpful and plan to promote the MLS program to their students.  

“As a school counselor, it was informative to understand the opportunity that a Medical Laboratory Science MLS student has at Trinity Hospital System,” Garner said. “The experience to work in a clinical setting to prepare a young professional alongside their classroom curriculum is unique.”

She added, “Prior to the Lunch N Learn, I was not aware of the 4+1 or 3+1 (in state at West Liberty University) college student has with the MLS program. I will share the opportunity the MLS program offers to our students.”

“The Lunch N Learn session at Trinity Health System was very insightful,” Macaluso said. “It was so interesting to learn about the MLS Program as it is such an important career that seems to fly under the radar. I am very excited to have the opportunity to share what I learned with students at Oak Glen that could certainly make a difference with this career path.”

After lunch, participants heard about the experiences of being in the program from current students and took tours of the laboratory. 

More information about the School of Medical Laboratory Science can be found at www.trinityhealth.com or by emailing [email protected].