Life in the Lab: Faces Behind the Scenes
Phlebotomy technician Ashley Williams holds a pneumatic tube system container in the outpatient lab at Falmouth Hospital. The container is used to send and receive specimens between the lab, ER and hospital floors, including for blood transfusions.
During the 50th anniversary of Medical Laboratory Professionals Week (April 20–26), we celebrated the vital—but often behind-the-scenes—role that our laboratory teams play in patient care and public health.
Behind most diagnoses, treatment plans and medical decisions is a dedicated team of laboratory professionals ensuring accuracy, efficiency and quality in healthcare.
A day in the life of a lab tech involves operating sophisticated equipment such as cell counters, microscopes and highly complex analyzers that examine blood, urine and other body fluids. Laboratory personnel in anatomic pathology specialize in the preparation and analysis of biological tissue for microscopic examination, playing a crucial role in assisting pathologists with the diagnosis of cancers and other cellular abnormalities.
Shaping the future of healthcare through education
Beyond their day-to-day responsibilities, our laboratory professionals at Cape Cod Healthcare are also shaping the future of the field. Through the Medical Technologist Internship Program, CCHC provides aspiring professionals with hands-on experience in a clinical laboratory setting. Interns work alongside experienced technologists, learning essential skills such as test performance, quality control procedures, instrument maintenance, calibration and troubleshooting.
College students are offered the opportunity to spend several weeks—or even an entire semester—in our various departments through work-study programs.
We recently visited the lab at Cape Cod Hospital where we caught up with a couple of students, including Veronica Demoura, a Bristol Community College intern gaining hands-on experience in the hospital’s blood bank. Since March 27, she’s been assisting with cross-matching, antibody panels and core testing. As part of her two-year program in clinical laboratory science, she’s been on-site Tuesday through Friday for a three-week rotation.
“I like it when it’s fast-paced—I like being busy,” says Veronica. “This experience is really shaping my career goals, and I feel like I’ve learned a lot here.”
Set to graduate in May, she’s already looking ahead.
“It’s helped me grow and learn so much,” she adds, sharing her interest in pursuing a bachelor’s degree next.
Melissa Medeiros, lead medical technologist at the blood bank at Cape Cod Hospital, praised her involvement: “We’re all involved in the training process. Veronica has been helping with start-ups, quality control, antibody IDs and cross-matching for patients who need blood or platelets. It’s been great to have her here.”
Hands-on learning with cutting-edge technology
Kayla Reardon, a UMass Dartmouth student studying medical laboratory science, spent the semester interning in the hospital lab as part of her final rotation before graduating in May.
“I always knew I wanted to do something in the lab,” says Kayla, a Falmouth resident. “It’s been helpful to get to know this lab a little better because I’d like to stay on the Cape after graduation—at least for a couple of years to be close to my family.”
Her internship has taken her through microbiology, the blood bank and hematology, with chemistry as her final rotation. “We don’t have access to a lot of this equipment at school,” she adds. “So, it’s been really interesting to get hands-on with everything—especially working with the Atellica the past few days.”
The Atellica is an advanced diagnostic system used in hospital laboratories to perform high-volume chemistry and immunoassay testing with speed and precision. For students like Kayla, working with this kind of cutting-edge technology provides experience far beyond the classroom.
Cape Cod Healthcare is also committed to sparking interest in laboratory science among local high school students. Its educational outreach gives students a behind-the-scenes look at the world of medical laboratory science. During their visit, students tour state-of-the-art laboratories, explore complex analyzers and get an up-close view of the microscopic world in hematology and microbiology.
To our entire Lab Team—including phlebotomists, couriers, technologists and pathologists—thank you. You may work behind the scenes, but the impact of what you do each and every day is front and center in the lives of our patients and the future of healthcare.
Click through the slideshow to see Cape Cod Healthcare team members at work inside the medical labs at Cape Cod Hospital, Falmouth Hospital, and the CCHC Lab Services in Hyannis, Mashpee and Harwich (use arrow at right to view slideshow or swipe left on mobile).
Phlebotomy technician Ashley Williams prepares blood samples for processing using a StatSpin Express centrifuge at Falmouth Hospital.
Lab support techs Ed Kowalski and Cate Whiting bring teamwork and positive energy to the evening shift at Cape Cod Hospital.
MT Jane Prior operates the rapid COVID-19 testing within the SterilGARD biosafety cabinet at Cape Cod Hospital’s microbiology lab.
Cape Cod Hospital microbiology team: Tony Vaillancourt, Lisa Procopio, Meghan Falvey, Marisa Bizinkauskas and Kelly Messier.
Michael Burke serves as the lead pathologist assistant at Cape Cod Hospital.
Veronica Demoura, a Bristol Community College intern, gains hands-on experience in the hospital’s blood bank.
Kayla Reardon, with MLT lead Laura Zander at Cape Cod Hospital, is a UMass Dartmouth student studying medical laboratory science who spent the semester interning in the Cape Cod Hospital lab.
Evening techs Michelle Piva, Maria Galang, Tajaun Francis (standing) and Diana Joyce at Cape Cod Hospital.
The phlebotomy team at Cape Cod Hospital: Vincent Snipes, Kelly Sanford, Alexandra Robinson and Hilda Haye.
Brandy Burnett, a histology technician at Cape Cod Hospital, helps process and prepare tissue samples for analysis.
Lead donor care specialist Teri Lotterhand and Lok Tse, supervisor of transfusion medicine services and the blood donor program, work together to support Cape Cod Healthcare’s blood donation efforts and patient care.
Histology tech Trey Smith at Cape Cod Hospital prepares tissue samples using a microtome, an essential step in creating slides for microscopic examination.
The C-Lab team on Yellow Brick Road in Hyannis plays a vital role behind the scenes. (Back left to right): Alliyah Richards, Stephanie Moran, Jan Cahill, Tricia Childs (Front left to right): Brennae Hill, Shamika Garrett, Jen O’Brien
Medical technologist Amy Rosario and lab supervisor Paula Smith work together in the clinical lab at Falmouth Hospital.
The Faxon Outpatient phlebotomy team at Falmouth Hospital: Angela Burgers, Joseph LeFrange, Gwen Murray and Judy Tavares.
Falmouth Hospital lab team: Michael Correia, Linda Merrick, Lucy MacDonald, Amy Rosario and Paula Smith
Lucy MacDonald, Amy Rosario, Linda Merrick and Paula Smith are part of a cohesive 25-member team in the Falmouth lab.
Brendan Conlin, Melinda Stoltz, Lavona Lyons and Sharon Kelly are part of the Fontaine Lab team working diligently behind the scenes.
Medical tech Cheryl Cannon helps keep things running smoothly at the Mashpee lab.
The Mashpee lab team includes Dawson Jackson, Cheryl Cannon, Amanda Roussell and Alexandra Craig.
Dawson operates the Variant Turbo II analyzer, which runs Hemoglobin A1C tests.
