“Always remember, there is a patient on the other side of every lab test.”
That was the advice provided by Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Cytotechnology Program Director, Jenna LeBlanc ’13, as she and Clinical Lab Sciences Program Director and Associate Professor, Michelle Parent, ushered cytotechnology and clinical lab sciences students along their academic journeys to become laboratory professionals at the April 21 White Coat Ceremony.
Both clinical lab scientists and cytotechnologists are critical pieces of the healthcare puzzle as they provide laboratory information and services needed for the diagnosis and treatment of disease.
Dean and Vice President of Academic Affairs Anuja Ghorpade presided over the event which included guest speakers Mary George, PhD, the director of clinical microbiology in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory science at Albany Medical Center and ACPHS alumna, Caleigh Shea-Murphy ’20, cytotechnologist at Albany Medical Center.
The annual tradition of a white coat ceremony symbolizes a commitment by students to become competent and caring professionals. The cloaking is performed by faculty members of the College, who have the responsibility of guiding students onto their career paths. Following guest remarks and cloaking of white coats, students recite the CLS Pledge to the Profession and Cytotechnology Code of Conduct.
Two of the students recognized at the ceremony, Carissa Palmatier and Kathryn Solomon, received additional honors. Both were invited to attend the American Society for Cytotechnology’s (ASCT) annual conference in San Diego next month. Palmatier will present her research and Solomon will be awarded ASCT’s Bob Gay Scholarship in recognition of her academic excellence in cytotechnology and the potential to make contributions to the cytology profession.
The students receiving their white coats include:
Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Sciences
- Angela Empett
- Andie Schroyer
Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Technology and Master of Science in Clinical Laboratory Sciences
- Gabrielle Acosta-Herrera
- Janelle L. Thomas
Master of Science in Clinical Laboratory Sciences
- Mustafa Alobeidy
- Michael Grinshtein
CLS Students with Speakers Mary George, PhD (far right) and Caleigh Shea-Murphy ’20 (far left)
Master of Science in Cytotechnology and Molecular Cytology
- Rawabi Al Juwayid
- Atheer Alanazi
- Charliann Friedman
- Gustavo Mendez
- Carissa Palmatier
- Devin Ramcharitar
- Kathryn Solomon
Cytotechnology Students with Speakers Mary George, PhD (far right) and Caleigh Shea-Murphy ’20 (far left)
The time-honored event, held at the Gozzo Student Center on the ACPHS campus, included more than 100 in-person guests and culminated with a reception for family and friends. On Zoom, friends and family from across the globe sent their congratulations virtually.
About Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Founded in 1881, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (ACPHS) is a private, independent college dedicated to educating the next generation of leaders to improve the health of society. ACPHS offers 17 undergraduate, graduate and doctorate programs including online Master of Biomedical Sciences and Master of Biotechnology programs. Students have myriad opportunities to extend what they are learning in the classroom at The Stack Family Center for Biopharmaceutical Education and Training (CBET), at student-supported pharmacies in underserved communities, and at The Collaboratory, a public health resource designed to alleviate community health disparities in Albany’s South End neighborhood. ACPHS ranks #1 in New York State for best return on investment by Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce and was graded an A+ for value by Niche.
