Front row, from left, are Kathya Hernandez, Christina Brown, Anna Sherrer; second row, Galilea Cervantes, Montoya Barnes, Marlee Ethridge; third row, Savannah Simon, Alexis Adkins, Tabitha Section; fourth row, Isabel Claudio, Jamie Short, Kimberly Cochran; and back row, Cody Willis, Ricky Carter. Not pictured is Page Lamons. 

THOMASVILLE —  Southern Regional Technical College’s (SRTC) Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) program held a pinning ceremony on Wednesday, April 10, marking the completion of the program for 15 students.

Each student graduated with an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Medical Laboratory Technology from SRTC. The graduates include Kimberly Cochran of Tifton.

“I am so proud of this Medical Laboratory Technology graduating class of 2024,” said Vickie Smith, Medical Laboratory Program Chair. “They cried, sweated, and wanted to give up so many times. Every day was a new day of struggles, efforts, and success. Throughout their learning, they acknowledge the best way of learning is based on trial and error, and how to be adaptable. I witnessed them develop a bond between each other. This established motivation helped them put forth their best effort in completing their goal. This program is not easy, but I know they all had what it took to make it. I am very proud of them!”

The Highest GPA Award was presented to Marlee Ethridge of Lenox for achieving the highest GPA in the class. Cody Willis of Pelham was presented with the Ambassador Award, which is given to students who have distinguished themselves through leadership, distinction in learning, and innovation.

The program is accredited by the National Accreditation Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). With this accreditation, graduates may sit for the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) National Certification Exam to become Certified Medical Lab Technicians. Graduating from a NAACLS accredited program and passing the national certification is the only way someone can be employed in a clinical lab at a hospital.

SRTC’s MLT Program is a sequence of courses that prepares students for careers as medical laboratory technicians. Students learn to perform clinical laboratory procedures under the supervision of a qualified pathologist and/or clinical laboratory scientist. These tests are used to detect things such as blood type, HIV-AIDS, diabetes, hepatitis, anemia, West Nile virus, and much more. Throughout the program, classroom training is integrated with clinical experiences under the medical direction of cooperating hospitals.

For more information about the Medical Laboratory Technology program, please contact Vickie Smith at 229-225-5203 or email gsmith@southernregional.edu.