FOR BUSINESS: Trinity Health System School of Medical Laboratory Science celebrates 2026 graduates

STEUBENVILLE -- The Trinity Health System School of Medical Laboratory Science graduated its seventh class, comprised of Aliyah Pattie and Audrey Poole. The graduation ceremony was held in the chapel at Trinity Medical Center West, followed by a reception in the Sullivan Room.

Trinity's Medical Laboratory Science program spans 11 months and is designed for students who hold a bachelor's degree in biology or a related field or who are completing a medical laboratory science degree at Youngstown State University.

"Aliyah and Audrey excelled in both the didactic and practicum portions of the program," said Constance L. Moore, program director. "Their dedication and enthusiasm for learning laboratory medicine were evident in their success. During National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week, they took that excitement to the cafeteria in the form of a question-and-answer game for visitors and employees alike, complete with chances to win a gift basket."

Pattie is a graduate of Youngstown State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in chemistry. Poole is a graduate of Slippery Rock University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in biology.

Pattie has been hired by Mercy Health -- St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital in Youngstown, and Poole has been hired as a generalist in the Trinity Health System laboratory, where she will work in all departments within the lab.

"Audrey lives in the area, and we are excited to retain graduates for employment," Moore said. "This is one of the reasons the program exists."

During the program, students are exposed to all major laboratory disciplines -- including chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology, urinalysis and blood bank -- through hands-on practicum and classroom instruction. Another element of the curriculum is a special project, which allows students to experience supervisory and administrative aspects of laboratory testing. This year's projects included validation of a test kit for diagnosis of a type of gastroenteritis and feasibility of switching testing platforms for MRSA screening, both of which demonstrated a strong link between academic rigor and real-world impact on patient care.

The MLS program culminates with a certificate that allows graduates to take a national certification exam through the American Society for Clinical Pathology.

"This board certification exam verifies students' knowledge and critical thinking skills, which MLSs use every day in their work," Moore said. "It also allows graduates to command a higher salary than someone who is not certified. Both students have taken and passed the exam already and are eager to begin practicing what they've learned in the program."

While most patients see doctors, nurses and other allied health professionals, including phlebotomists who draw blood, medical laboratory scientists and technicians perform complex tests behind the scenes. Working manually and with sophisticated instrumentation, they provide critical data doctors rely on to make accurate decisions about diagnosis and treatment.

"Most people don't think about what happens to that blood or other body fluid specimen once it leaves the patient's bedside," Moore said. "But the laboratory professionals who perform the testing are working around the clock to provide physicians with the needed knowledge to diagnose, treat and monitor their patients. Through outreach presentations to elementary, middle and high schools, we try to educate the public on the vital role played by the MLS and to generate interest in the profession. We hope to establish more affiliations with local universities to accept their qualified students into the program."

According to Moore, the THS MLS School maintains an exceptional track record, boasting a 100 percent graduation rate, 100 percent employment rate, 100 percent pass rate for certification and full 10-year accreditation by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences. While most graduates tend to stay in the Ohio Valley, alumni are employed in many different states, including Idaho, Maine and Georgia -- and one works at SeaWorld in San Diego.

Information can be found at trinityhealth.com under the "services" tab or by contacting Moore at (740) 264-8447 or via email at constance.moore@commonspirit.org.