Gina LaMothe always wanted a career in the sciences. But in what field? Work in the clinic or be patient-facing? Focus on a certain subject or have knowledge of a wide swath of medicine?

Unsure of where a passion for science would lead her after graduating high school, Gina was accepted into Sonoma State University as a kinesiology major, but left after a year due to personal reasons. While her educational journey may have been put on hold, Gina took this time to soul search and find her professional calling. Her interest in the sciences never wavered—working as a medical assistant at Women’s Health Specialists and as an office manager at Sonoma Thrive Birth Center.

Working in these spaces further fueled her desire to work in the sciences and to do so meant it was time to go back to school.

“So I decided to enroll at Santa Rosa Junior College to pursue a biology degree,” Gina recalls. “It was there that I was introduced to the CLS/MLS profession by a fellow classmate. Even though I worked in health care, it never occurred to me that there were teams of people running all of the tests that the doctors ordered. I was surprised at the lack of awareness around the profession. I was immediately intrigued and started to research how to become one.”

Gina had made the first step toward becoming a clinical/medical laboratory scientist (CLS/MLS). Step two was returning to Sonoma State University to earn her bachelor’s degree in biology. Step three was registering for and completing our Clinical Laboratory Scientist Preparatory Program.

Step four—accepted into Providence Sacred Heart School of Medical Laboratory Science in Spokane, Wash.—and step five, working full time as an MLS, soon followed.

I was surprised at the lack of awareness around the profession. I was immediately intrigued and started to research how to become one.

What drew you to our program?

Sonoma State University didn’t offer the majority of the prerequisites that I needed for any of the programs that I wanted to apply to. I chose your program because it enabled me to take every prerequisite that I needed, as well as be able to complete them all online and self-paced during the height of the COVID pandemic. I needed to gain a strong foundation of laboratory science knowledge so that I would be prepared to be a competitive applicant into a CLS/MLS program.

What was your experience taking online courses?

I found some of the classes to be extremely eye-opening. Hematology was an entirely new subject for me so it took some time to learn this new topic.

I found the self-paced online format gave me the flexibility to work on my classes when I had the time. I was working with midwives at a birth center when the COVID  shutdown happened, so my work schedule and responsibilities shifted quite a bit. Being able to do my classwork around my work schedule was a game-changer. I had great interactions with classmates in the entirely online and self-paced program. We had assignments where we posted something and then replied to somebody else’s post. Even though there was no face-to-face interaction, it allowed us to ask questions and give each other encouragement and praise.

I chose your program because it enabled me to take every prerequisite that I needed so that I would be prepared to be a competitive applicant into a CLS/MLS program.

Congrats on being accepted and completing the MLS program at Providence Sacred Heart School of Medical Laboratory Science! How do you feel our courses prepared you to apply for this program? Did you face any challenges by applying to a non-California program?

All of my classes helped to lay a strong foundation for their respective courses in the MLS program. Hematology was taught in a very similar fashion and that helped me a ton when learning the nuances of all the hematological issues that come up in the lab.

There were surprisingly very little challenges with going to an out-of-state school. Washington doesn’t require additional certifications or licenses, so all I had to do was send them my transcripts and I was good to go.

Tell me about the MLS training program. What was a typical day for you?

The program was split into six months of didactic, followed by six months of clinical rotations, with education in laboratory management one day a week.

A typical day of didactic was morning lectures followed by an afternoon in the lab. We rotated through hematology, microbiology, chemistry, immunology, urinalysis and blood bank throughout the week.

Our professors were all graduates of the program with many years of experience. They were all incredibly passionate about the subjects they taught and knew exactly  how hard to push us. They were always available for questions and happy to make little adjustments to their schedules to accommodate the other topics we were learning.

Once we were in clinical rotations, we would meet at Providence every Monday for review of the previous week's rotations; work on our end-of-year project; and learn about laboratory operations, management and compliance. Tuesday through Friday were spent at our respective rotation sites throughout the greater Spokane/ Coeur d’Alene area.

Washington doesn’t require additional certifications or licenses, so all I had to do was send them my transcripts and I was good to go.

Tell me about your current work as an MLS at Kootenai Health.

I did the majority of my clinical rotations at Kootenai and was lucky enough to secure a position within the microbiology department before I even graduated the MLS program. I started working shortly after passing my boards.

I spent a year working the evening shift in microbiology before a dayshift position opened in the core lab. I now work in the hematology, coagulation, urinalysis/body fluids and chemistry departments.

There is a pretty steep learning curve with this profession, but the knowledge and skills I acquired with your CLS/MLS Prep program and the Providence MLS program set me up for success. There are so many little nuances with each department in the lab, and having a strong background from my education helped make my training go quickly and smoothly.

What does completing our program mean to you?

Completing your program meant overcoming a huge hurdle for me. I have always struggled with school and being able to complete all the courses gave me the confidence that I needed to enter the PSHMC MLS program and feel like I deserved to be there.

What advice would you give to a student who is starting our program?

Take your time with your classes but make deadlines for yourself if you’re doing them online and self-paced. Reach out to your instructors if you have any questions. Even though the program is rigorous, it’s also temporary and soon enough you will be working in a field that makes you feel like you are making a difference.

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Where can we find you in five years?

Right here at Kootenai Health! I have really wonderful, supportive supervisors and a fun, diverse group of co-workers who range in MLS experience from six months to 35 years. In the year-and-a half that I have worked here, I have been able to grow immensely as an MLS. I plan on taking advantage of every opportunity for growth so I can be the most well-rounded MLS  that I can be.