The Trinity Health System School of Medical Laboratory Science graduated their sixth class on June 20. Pictured from left: Dwayne Richardson, President, Twin City Medical Center and Regional Operations; Connie Moore, MEd, MLS (ASCP)CM, MLS Program Director; Theresa Clark, MT (ASCP), Regional Director of Laboratories; Mary Dagan (graduate); Alivia Miller (graduate); Lynn Waggoner, MT(ASCP) (School of MLS faculty); and David Willey, Interim Market Director, Mission.
On Friday, June 20, 2025, the Trinity Health System School of Medical Laboratory Science graduated their sixth class, comprised of Mary Dagan and Alivia Miller. The graduation ceremony was held in the Trinity West Chapel, followed by a reception in the private dining room.
Trinity Health System’s Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) program spans 11 months and is designed for students who hold a Bachelor of Science in Biology or a related field or who are completing a Medical Laboratory Science degree at Youngstown State University (YSU).
“This year’s class was very dedicated to the profession,” Constance L. Moore, M.Ed., MLS (ASCP)CM, Program Director, Trinity Health System School of Medical Laboratory Science, said. “They continually excelled in both the lecture and practicum portions of the program as well as manning a booth outside of the hospital cafeteria with games and prizes during National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week.”
Dagan is a graduate of the University of Mount Union, earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology before enrolling in the program. Miller is a YSU senior who obtained credits through the Trinity Health System program to fulfill requirements for a Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Laboratory Science.
During the THS MLS program, students are exposed to all major laboratory disciplines–including Chemistry, Hematology, Microbiology, Immunology, Urinalysis, and Blood Bank–through both hands-on practicum and classroom instruction. Another element of the curriculum is a Special Project, which allows the students to experience the supervisory and administrative aspects of laboratory testing. This year’s projects included a validation study for Lyme Disease Testing and an Environmental Culture Case Study, both of which demonstrated a strong link between academic rigor and real-world impact on patient care.
The MLS program culminates with a certificate that allows the graduates to take a national certification exam through the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP).
“I would love for the community to realize that hospital laboratories must employ quality, highly educated professionals in order to ensure reliable patient results,” Moore said.
While most patients see doctors, nurses, and other allied health professionals, including the phlebotomist who draws a patient’s blood, medical laboratory scientists and technicians perform complex tests behind the scenes, both manually and on sophisticated instrumentation, from which doctors will base their decisions about diagnosis and treatment.
“Our program at Trinity Health System is essential to the education of these professionals,” Moore said. “And it is my hope that word will get out about the program so that more students will become interested in the medical laboratory science profession and opt to be interviewed for a spot in our future classes. Also, we hope to obtain more affiliation agreements with other universities, like the one we have with YSU.”
According to Moore, the THS MLS School has a 100 percent graduation rate, 100 percent employment rate, 91 percent pass rate for certification, and full accreditation by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). While most graduates tend to stay in the Ohio Valley, alumni are employed in many different states, including Idaho, Maine, and Georgia. One even works at Sea World in San Diego, Calif., Moore said.
More information can be found at www.trinityhealth.com under the “Services” tab or by contacting Connie Moore at 740-264-8447 or via email at [email protected].