Department of Medical and Research Technology (DMRT)
Jo-Anne Miller
Jo-Anne is keeping it in the family by joining the DMRT program – her sister graduated from here in 1998. "She has worked in the field since she graduated and has always told me what a great opportunity going to Maryland was," Jo-Anne explains. "I was drawn here by her positive experience, the DMRT program's reputation and its location in Baltimore City, where I had always wanted to live."
The chance to expand her career opportunities was also very important. "Before entering this program, I had earned an Associate of Science in biology and a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology," says Jo-Anne. "With these degrees I was able to work in a hospital doing basic lab work. I soon realized, though, that even with my degrees, I couldn’t do the kind of work I wanted to. I was limited because I didn’t have clinical experience or certification, nor was I eligible for it. Soon after I graduated [with my BS], I decided to pursue becoming a medical technologist."
The DMRT program has lived up to her high expectations. "It is a very structured program that allows you to build your knowledge as you go, leaving you very prepared to enter an actual clinical setting," Jo-Anne raves. "I enjoy being in a class where everyone is after the same goal, because it helps keep you focused. In the beginning, I was surprised by how the program was organized. Coming from a large college where you had to fight to get into classes you needed, it was nice to not have to worry about that. Also, as challenging as the program is, the classes are very manageable, and you can always get help from classmates or your instructors without a problem."
She has been especially impressed by her instructors. "All of my teachers are very knowledgeable about medical technology," Jo-Anne says. "They know what you need to do to be successful in this field and do all they can to get you there. Most, if not all, have worked as a medical technologist, which offers us an opportunity to find out what it is really going to be like once we graduate."
Jo-Anne hopes that upon graduation she can find a job that will combine her interest in medical technology and microbiology. "I would like to work in a larger teaching hospital and get a few years of experience," she tells us. "In the long-term future I would like to work in infectious disease control. Having this degree in medical technology can only benefit me as I pursue that goal.
"Not many people know what a medical technologist is, or does, and many people are surprised to find out what exactly working in 'the lab' means," Jo-Anne continues. "This program offers a great opportunity to see all different aspects of clinical science, and it is also a great stepping-stone to so many different avenues of medicine."
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