Fall 2013
Laboratory eNews
Alumni newsletter of the Illinois State University
medical laboratory science program
In this issue
Dear alumni and friends,
Chair’s message
I would like to thank the many alumni and friends of the Department of Health
Sciences for their kind words of support and the warm welcome as I assume the
duties of the chair. I would also like to thank Marilyn Morrow for her hard work
and dedication to the department. She has been extremely helpful in my transition.
The Department of Health Sciences is experiencing a period of transition.
Last summer four faculty members left the department. In the health information
management program, former director Frank Waterstraat, Ph.D. ’01, and Pauline
Miller, retired after 30 and 25 years of service, respectively. Morrow (health education) retired after 30 years of service as a faculty member and department chair, and
Lezah Brown has left to start a new job at Loyola Hospital. Sandy McBride, the
department’s office support staff member for the past 14 years, retired at the end of
August. We wish all of these individuals the very best for the next stage of their lives.
Their contributions to the department will be missed.
I would like to welcome the new faculty and staff in the department. Last fall,
Kathryn Webster ’92 joined the faculty in the medical laboratory science program.
Webster brings with her many years of experience as a medical laboratory technician that will benefit the students and the department. Jennifer Peterson ’86, M.S.
’97, has joined the faculty in the health information management program. Her
experiences and fresh ideas have brought a renewed enthusiasm to the classes in this
program. This fall Jackie Lanier joined the faculty in the health education program.
Lanier brings 13 years of public health experience to the community health education program. Tom Fuller joined the faculty in the safety program this year. His
expertise in occupational health and safety will strengthen the safety program.
During the summer and the fall semester our students have been busy completing practicum experience at a number of sites across the state and participating at
professional conferences. A group of six health education students traveled to San
Antonio to participate in the American School Health Association and the Eta
Sigma Gamma annual conference. The students were able to network with professionals and students from across the country. Four students from the environmental
health program received special recognition for the poster that they presented at
professional conferences in Chicago and Indianapolis. Please take the time to read
the newsletters from each of the department’s five programs to learn more about the
accomplishments of our students and faculty.
We are always interested in what you are doing and where you are located.
Please stay in touch and send us your new business cards and contact information as
you move through your career.
Scholarship winners
Chemist, educator, manager,
and Redbird— an interview with
Deb Tiffany ’79
MLS offers exam simulator seats
to alums
Interview with Mark Bettinger ’01
How can you help us?
Laboratory eNews
Fall 2013
Published semiannually
HealthSciences.IllinoisState.edu/Lab-Science
Illinois State University
Department of Health Sciences
Medical laboratory science program
Campus Box 5220
Normal, IL 61790-5220
Best regards,
Jeffrey Clark
chair, Department of Health Sciences
Scholarship winners
in many activities and organizations, including Alternative
Spring Break, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and
the Alpha Lambda Delta National Honor Society. Hoyer enjoys
the challenges of the ever-expanding knowledge base in the
world of medicine.
The medical laboratory science (MLS) program awards four
student scholarships annually thanks to the generosity of former
faculty members, their families, and alumni of the program. The
scholarships are the Maurine J. Corsaut Scholarship, the Charles
Spencer Scholarship, the Jeanne Martens Scholarship, and the
Jennifer Wood Scholarship. Juniors and seniors majoring in MLS
are eligible to apply for these scholarships. In addition, the program has been fortunate to be able to present one senior with the
Ruth M. Jones Award. The Jones Award covers the cost of taking
the American Society for Clinical Pathology’s (ASCP) board of
certification exam.
chelsey jones
Chelsey Jones ’13 won the 2013 Ruth M. Jones
Award as well as the 2013 Jeanne Martens Scholarship. Jones chose the MLS major because she
could combine her interest in science with a career
in which she could also help people. She completed her professional practice at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center and is now
working at St. Mary’s Hospital in Decatur.
mustafe adar
Mustafe Adar ’13 was the 2013 winner of the Maurine
J. Corsaut Scholarship. He successfully balanced family
responsibilities, work, and his studies while attending
Illinois State. In addition he strongly believes in community service and has volunteered at his son’s school as well as
mentored other East African men in his community in their pursuit
of higher education. Adar works at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical
Center in Chicago, where he also completed his professional practice.
obaid ullah muhammad
Obaid Ullah Muhammad ’12 was the 2012 winner
of the Jennifer Wood Scholarship. He is originally
from Pakistan, but now resides in Illinois. Muhammad always wanted to work in health care in some
capacity. He became interested in laboratory medicine as a result
of some volunteer work that he did in the southwest Chicago
suburbs. Muhammad now works at Decatur Memorial Hospital.
roslyn cox
ambrea powe
Roslyn Cox ’13 was the 2012 winner of the Jeanne
Martens scholarship. Cox attended professional practice in the spring semester at Presence United Samaritans Hospital in Danville. She is also an active member
of the United States Army Reserves.
Ambrea Powe won the 2013 Charles Spencer
Scholarship. She is a senior from Hazel Crest.
Powe wanted to major in a subject with a research
component, so she chose MLS. She will begin professional practice in the fall at Advocate Christ Medical Center.
Powe loves being involved in many volunteer activities, like
Alternative Spring Break.
ahmed dahir
Ahmed Dahir ’12 was the 2011 Charles Spencer
Scholarship winner. He is originally from Somalia
and has been living in the United States for five years.
Dahir went to the Carle Foundation Hospital for his
professional practice. He is married and has a young son. Dahir is
interested in eventually earning a graduate degree in public health
or epidemiology.
nya randle - el
Nya Randle-El ’13 was the 2012 Charles Spencer
Scholarship winner. She is from Hickory Hills.
Randle-El became interested in the MLS program
because she wanted a career that made a huge
impact on people’s lives as well as a profession that enabled her
to learn about the human body and the challenges of diagnostics.
She did her professional practice at Palos Community Hospital
in Palos Heights.
benjamin dickinson
Benjamin Dickinson ’07, ’12 won the 2011 and 2012
Maurine Corsaut Scholarship. Dickinson is from Decatur. His cheerful outlook and all-embracing personality
brought a sense of camaraderie and friendship to MLS
classes. His professional practice took place at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield. Dickinson is now working at Memorial
Medical Center.
kaleigh rich
Kaleigh Rich won the 2013 Jeanne Martens Scholarship. She is native of Bloomington who chose
the MLS major because she wanted a career that
involves science. She is a senior and will attend professional practice at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield. She is an
Honors Program member and volunteers in many campus activities, including Relay for Life and Alternative Spring Break.
adam haile - mariam
Adam Haile-Mariam, a Bloomington native, won the
Jennifer Wood Scholarship 2013. Haile-Mariam is a
senior in MLS and is doing his professional practice
at St. Margaret’s Hospital in Spring Valley. He enjoys
this field because it is always changing because of new discoveries.
He hopes to use his skills to land a job in research.
jennifer shudy
Jennifer Shudy ’12 won the 2011 Jennifer Wood
Scholarship. Shudy lives in Champaign with her husband, David, and works at Presence Covenant Hospital in Urbana. Shudy’s mother’s and grandmother’s
careers in nursing inspired her to seek a career helping others.
rebecca hoyer
Rebecca Hoyer ’11, of Arlington Heights, won the
Jeanne Martens Scholarship for the second time in
2011. While she was on campus, Hoyer was involved
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Chemist, educator, manager, and Redbird:
An interview with Deb Tiffany ’79
done routinely in general laboratories. Case in point—we
used to do a single daily batch of T4 testing in chemistry
using an EMIT (Enzyme multiplied immunoassay technique)
method, and a T3 uptake method in blood bank using radioimmunoassay (RIA). The last person done had to manually
do the calculation that estimated free T4. This whole process
took about five hours each day. Now I can do a free T4
directly on an analyzer 24/7 and have a very precise result
within 15 minutes. Molecular diagnostics are a huge change
in how we do things, but the jury is still out how we are
going to pay for all the technology that is being developed.
We as a nation have to figure out how to responsibly use the
resources of laboratory testing so that it is used when appropriate, not just because we have it.
director of laboratory services , swedishamerica health systems
Is your office still decorated with Redbird memorabilia?
Absolutely! Since there are five alums in our family—my husband and I, both our kids, and our son-in-law—there are many
pictures of ISU-related activities and Reggie Redbird. It extends
to my car (ISU license plate) and our
basement (Reggie room complete
with ISU-red felt on the pool table).
How did you come to choose the MLS
program at Illinois State? What is
your fondest memory of your years
on campus?
During your career you’ve worn many hats—chemist, educator,
manager. Which of these has brought you the most satisfaction? Which the most challenges?
I’m originally from Peoria, so the
location was perfect to be close
enough to home if needed but far
enough away to be gone. When I went on college visits with my
parents, ISU was the one place that felt “right.” I’m not sure I
have a single fondest memory of my time on campus. It’s more
a memory of being in a place where we could learn a lot from
very dedicated faculty but still have fun. Random things like
getting fresh Avanti bread out of the oven for 50 cents a loaf,
Rites of Spring in the Quad, lying in the sun in the Walker
quad, going to Walker cafeteria for meals, and dealing with the
“Walker Wolves” as our male dorm mates were referred to.
Each hat is different, so they all had satisfactions and challenges. I’m a born med tech—I doubt if there is any other
career out there that would fit my personality and skills any
better. Some days I would love nothing more than to put on
a lab coat and run a bench because you have a tangible thing
that you do—you turn out high quality results that will help
someone get better or stay that way. It was always a challenge
to not allow myself to become complacent at the bench. Having students really helps with that because you have to be
on your toes. Being an educator generally involves delayed
satisfaction because it may take a while for a student to fully
appreciate what you did to and for them. I have had students
thank me literally decades later for what I taught them. I
would say being a lab director has provided the extremes of
both satisfaction and challenge. We had the opportunity to
move into a new lab eight months after I took the position.
The satisfaction of doing this move all in one day with no
lost specimens and no issues was such a high! It’s also very
satisfying (and also challenging) to keep this beautiful lab wellstaffed and well-equipped. I think the biggest challenge is to
advocate for your staff and the laboratory, but also do what is
best for the health system.
When you entered the laboratory workforce, did you see yourself as a laboratory director? What led you to this position?
Ha! Mine has to be the least planned career in history! My first
job was a day-shift position in chemistry at the SwedishAmerican Hospital. One thing I did find out from the experience
was that I liked teaching students, and they liked working with
me. That’s what led me to get a master’s degree in education
with the ultimate goal of being a program director. As staffing
changed in the chemistry department, I became senior tech and
then supervisor. I really liked chemistry for the variety and the
pace of the work. I became program director and point-of-care
testing coordinator after one of my teaching mentors retired in
2001. Shortly after this I accepted a part-time teaching position
at NIU (Northern Illinois University) teaching clinical chemistry. When the laboratory manager announced his retirement,
the position was upgraded to a director position, and I decided
that I had a diverse enough background that I would at least
look into it. So here I am.
Do you see any challenges or opportunities on the horizon for
MLS professionals?
The average age of a med tech is around 56 years old right
now, so there is a talent and retirement drain coming soon.
This will affect not just bench positions but many supervisory, managerial, and educational positions as well. There is
going to be a huge need for MLS professionals to do things
like billing and coding, lab informatics, and teaching/program
administration. Now is the time for our midcareer MLS professionals to start considering graduate school for advanced
education in business or education so they will be ready to
assume these positions.
What is the biggest change(s) in laboratory medicine
that you’ve seen since your career began?
Speed and test menus, mostly due to automation and the
incredible progress in technology. Things that had to be sent
to a reference lab (endocrine testing, for example) are now
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information can be found on the MediaLab website by clicking
the Exam Simulator tab. On the website, there is a very comprehensive view of the product, as well as a practice exam that
anyone can take without having to sign up or pay a fee.
What advice would you give to students studying MLS? To new
graduates as they enter the workforce?
To students, I would urge them to absorb as much as they can
from anyone and everyone—be curious about your environment. You can’t restrict your learning to just what is in the
book or on the syllabus. Everyone in health care has a different
perspective—learn what other people on the team do and why.
To new graduates, I urge you to remain as flexible as you possibly can. Med techs are often creatures of habit and this is often
a plus because it suits us and is easy, but it’s also a minus when
you get so rigid in your thinking you won’t consider any other
way. Try different hours, different jobs, different experiences.
Consider alternatives, think outside the box, and be open to
challenges.
Interview with Mark Bettinger ’01
laboratory sales executive , university of illinois
medical center , reference lab
Mark Bettinger returned to Illinois State University campus
on October 4, 2012, to talk to MLS students during Alumni
Week. Since graduating in 2001, Bettinger has been steadily
advancing his career in medical laboratory science.
After finishing his professional practice at Advocate Trinity Hospital in Chicago, he returned to downstate Illinois to
work at the Christie Clinic in Champaign. There, he rotated
through all the labs of the four-story,
100-provider clinic before being
promoted to the position of send-out
coordinator. At the time, the sendout department had nine satellite labs
and monthly revenue of $100,000.
In 2006 Bettinger moved to the
University of Illinois Medical Center
Lab and worked as a lab sales consultant and account manager. This
meant driving approximately 40,000 miles per year, visiting clients, and handling their issues. But he enjoyed the mix of meeting new people and helping them to solve problems to meet
their needs. In 2009 he became a laboratory sales executive,
allowing him more time at home to be with his growing family.
In his current position, he divides his time between managing
current clients and procuring new ones. Bettinger loves sales and
the highly competitive environment he is in.
Bettinger had valuable advice for MLS students and new
graduates. He found the professional practice to be challenging
and was awed to be working in real patient situations. “The
need to know things right from the beginning was important,”
he said. As far as the ASCP exam, he advised students to “study
hard for it, and take it soon after graduation.” Bettinger said he
“had nine job offers by March of his senior year,” but admits
that today’s job market is tougher for new grads. He emphasized
the importance of networking and working hard to make a good
impression. He also advised students to take classes in business,
research design, and education management, to help them be
competitive in the changing job market.
Currently, Bettinger lives happily in Champaign with his
wife, Jennifer, and their three children.
Any other words of wisdom?
Have a life; do things that have nothing to do with your job.
When things at work aren’t going well, you need hobbies and
people in your life that you enjoy and that help you keep a
healthy perspective.
MLS offers exam simulator seats to alums
The MLS program was very fortunate in securing funding
for a subscription to an online resource for certification exam
preparation.
MediaLab (MediaLabInc.net) has an exam simulator module that includes more than 3,000 study questions and feedback on all of those questions, covering both American Society
for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) and American Medical Technologist (AMT) practice exams at both the medical laboratory
techinician (MLT) and MLS levels. There is 24-hour access,
and the scores can be further divided to give students information regarding their weak areas and their areas of strength.
There are individual content modules for each discipline, as
well as comprehensive exams, and there is a game mode, which
students enjoy. The subscription fee for the exam simulator is
an additional fee from the other continuing education modules that MediaLab has offered for many years.
We currently have seats available and can offer this resource
to any Illinois State University alums in the event they would
want to use it to prepare for a certification exam or even just
try it out before making a decision to purchase their own personal subscription. Those who wish to enroll are usually “placed
in a seat” for a 30-day interval, and then if they are using the
resource, we are often able to re-enroll them for another 30
days if they want to continue their preparation. An individual
can buy a personal subscription as well without having to go
through a sponsoring institution.
We are just in the early stages of collecting data on the use
of this resource, but from the early data, it is proving to be a
very valuable resource in preparing students to pass the certification exams on first attempt. We will present more data on our
experiences at the clinical affiliate’s meeting in the spring. More
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How can you help us?
This is a request for you, as an alum of this program, to help us with your professional contacts.
The good news is that we have excellent working relationships with our current clinical affiliates, and they have always
helped us solve problems in finding professional practice spots for our students. The bad news is that we are fearful that
mergers, buyouts, new laboratory information management systems or other technology, along with staff shortages and
retirements will impact those ever faithful institutions, and we will have no backups in place (not a good situation for any
med tech). We would love to share our wealth of students with more sites so we do not have to rely so heavily on current
affiliates year after year and they could take a year off if need be, for whatever reason.
So how can you help? We would like you to consider using your networking resources to identify hospitals that perhaps are not hosting our students at this time and might consider coming on board as a clinical affiliate. Please send contact information to [email protected] or [email protected], and we will follow up on the information .
So the bottom line is, please consider this request as a way of giving back to the medical laboratory science program,
our profession, and to Illinois State University.
Thank you and go Redbirds!
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This document is available in alternative formats upon request by contacting the Department of Health Sciences at (309) 438-8329.
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