In Memoriam: Deirdre Desantis Parsons, MS, MT (ASCP) SBB, Dedicated Program Director and Educator

The University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) regrets to announce that Deirdre DeSantis Parsons, MS, MT(ASCP)SBB, Assistant Professor and Program Director, Medical Laboratory Science Program, Department of Medical and Research Technology, has passed away.

Ms. Parsons held a long and distinguished career at UMSOM as a medical laboratory scientist and educator. She served as program director of the UMSOM Medical Laboratory Science Program, the largest of four programs in the State of Maryland and one of the two largest in the Mid-Atlantic region. She served as the Course Coordinator for undergraduate courses including, Immunohematology (Blood Banking), Professional Development and the Comprehensive Review Course, which includes oversight of student clinical practicums in Chemistry, Hematology, Microbiology and Immunohematology.

“Ms. Parsons was an outstanding and passionate educator,” said UMSOM Dean Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, who is also the Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs, University of Maryland, Baltimore and the John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor.  “We are very saddened by the passing of Ms. Parsons. She was dedicated and tireless in her work that helped drive the undergraduate Medical Laboratory Science Program toward many significant accomplishments.

During her distinguished academic career Ms. Parsons received several professional awards, including awards for excellence in teaching that were presented by graduating classes. Ms. Parsons has served on numerous SOM committees and is an advisory Board Member on Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) and Specialist in Blood Banking (SBB) Programs in the area.

Ms. Parsons received her B.S. in Medical Technology in 1984 from Anna Maria College in Paxton, MA and an M.S. degree in Allied Health in 1990 from the University of Connecticut. In 1992, Ms. Parsons received her Specialist Certificate in Blood Banking and Transfusion Medicine from New England Deaconess Hospital in Boston, MA. She is certified as both a Medical Laboratory Scientist and Specialist in Blood Banking by the American Society for Clinical Pathologists (ASCP). At UMSOM, Department of Medical and Research Technology, Ms. Parsons served as Assistant Professor and Course Director and in 2002 was named Program Director for the undergraduate Medical Laboratory Science Program.

“We will always be grateful for Deirdre Parson’s immeasurable contributions and the legacy she left for the UMSOM Medical Technology Program. She was passionate about her work and committed to our students,” said Sanford A. Stass, MD, Professor and Chair, Department of Pathology and Department of Medical and Research Technology.

A viewing will be held on Feb. 14, from 2:00 to 4:00  pm and 6;00 to 8:00 pm at the Harry H. Witzke's Family Funeral Home, 4112 Old Columbia Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21043. Funeral services will be held on Feb. 15 at 10:00 am at St. Louis Roman Catholic Church, 12500 Clarksville Pike, Clarksville, MD 21029. Click Here for more details and to access Ms. Parson's obitiuary 

About the University of Maryland School of Medicine

Now in its third century, the University of Maryland School of Medicine was chartered in 1807 as the first public medical school in the United States. It continues today as one of the fastest growing, top-tier biomedical research enterprises in the world -- with 43 academic departments, centers, institutes, and programs; and a faculty of more than 3,000 physicians, scientists, and allied health professionals, including members of the National Academy of Medicine and the National Academy of Sciences, and a distinguished recipient of the Albert E. Lasker Award in Medical Research.  With an operating budget of more than $1 billion, the School of Medicine works closely in partnership with the University of Maryland Medical Center and Medical System to provide research-intensive, academic and clinically-based care for more than 1.2 million patients each year. The School has over 2,500 students, residents, and fellows, and more than $530 million in extramural funding, with most of its academic departments highly ranked among all medical schools in the nation in research funding. As one of the seven professional schools that make up the University of Maryland, Baltimore campus, the School of Medicine has a total workforce of nearly 7,000 individuals. The combined School and Medical System (“University of Maryland Medicine”) has an annual budget of nearly $6 billion and an economic impact more than $15 billion on the state and local community. The School of Medicine faculty, which ranks as the 8^th highest among public medical schools in research productivity, is an innovator in translational medicine, with 600 active patents and 24 start-up companies. The School works locally, nationally, and globally, with research and treatment facilities in 36 countries around the world. Visit medschool.umaryland.edu/