Clinical Lab Sciences Celebrates 30th

Among those individuals and institutions honored at the Clinical Laboratory Sciences 30th Anniversary Celebration were, from left, Paul Inderbitzen, clinical laboratory education coordinator at Lowell General Hospital; Gerald Martone, ’79, recipient of the program’s first distinguished alumni award; Linda Kilbride, clinical laboratory manager at Saints Memorial Hospital, and Michelle Bioe, an information specialist at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Manchester, N.H.

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From its inception in 1978 to its recent 30th anniversary celebration, the Clinical Laboratory Sciences program has been growing and changing. 

After launching as a medical technology program, degree options have expanded consistently, adding choices such as an undergraduate clinical sciences option in 1986, a master’s degree in 1988, a clinical pathology graduate certificate in 1999, and the first graduate certificate for public health laboratory scientists, developed in cooperation with the Department of Public Health, in 2006. This spring, the Board of Higher Education approved a bachelor’s degree in nutritional science.

The department has graduated close to 600 individuals in its 30 years. Graduates have achieved board certification pass rates in the mid-90s and the program has achieved perfect accreditation scores from the National Accreditation Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences since the 1980s.

“This has all been accomplished with a small, dedicated nucleus of faculty,” says Department Chair Kay Doyle.

The recent celebration included recognition of four founding faculty – Alease Bruce, Mike Frechette, Jay Lam and Ted Namm.  “I wanted to thank these four faculty members for their devoted service and outstanding teaching,” Doyle told those assembled for the celebration. “It was their vision for our programs that helped make us what we are today.”

Doyle also recognized the contributions of Prof. Gene Rogers, graduate program coordinator, and Assoc. Prof. Tom Wilson, academic coordinator for the nutritional sciences program. Both Rogers and Wilson are program alumnae.

Professional technologists Donna Rogers and Nancy Grandbois were recognized with “Above and Beyond” awards for their outstanding service in Clinical Laboratory Sciences.

The celebration also included presentation of the first Clinical Laboratory Science Distinguished Alumni Award to Gerald Martone ’79. Martone, who will be a 2008 honorary degree recipient at Commencement on May 31, has had a remarkable career in international relief work. He is currently director of Humanitarian Affairs & U.N. Relations for the International Rescue Committee in New York. 

The evening also honored clinical affiliates and several clinical faculty who have been teaching clinical internships for years.  Lowell General Hospital and Saints Memorial Hospital were recognized for their long standing as clinical affiliates of the program. Both have been participating since the program was launched in the early 1970s.

Several individuals were recognized as clinical faculty who have been teaching for the program as a professional and public service. Honorees included Paul Inderbitzen of Lowell General, and John Lethbridge, Lois Reible, Priscilla Fawcett and Francine Gorman of Saints Memorial Hospital. Linda Kilbride, another clinical instructor from Saints Memorial, was honored with an “Above and Beyond” award. A program alum, Kilbride serves on the CLS Advisory Committee, the CLS Alumni Advisory Committee and the School of Health and Environment’s Advisory Committee.

Doyle closed the evening’s recognition program by thanking the faculty, staff and students in Clinical Laboratory Sciences, noting that “without you, none of this would be possible.”

A collection of photos from the 30th anniversary celebration can be viewed in UML's photo gallery.