Three graduate students in Daemen College’s highly specialized cytotechnology program were recently recognized virtually at the fourth annual white coat ceremony hosted by Roswell Park Comprehensive Center, the program’s educational partner.
Students honored were Amy Haines of Butler, Pa., Cassandra Mayle of Williamsville, and Sebastian Zmijewski, Jr. of Buffalo. The white coat ceremony is a symbolic rite of passage that officially recognizes cytotechnology students for their professional commitment to health care and clinical excellence in their field. Several of the eight program graduates joined in the special celebration.
“We commend you all for your hard work and perseverance, but mostly for embracing your roles as new health care professionals and team members with maturity, deep commitment, and pride, especially during these challenging times,” said Dr. Michael Brogan, senior vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college. “What started as a conversation between colleagues from Daemen and Roswell has grown into an outstanding partnership that benefits our students, faculty, both of our fine institutions, the patients that are served, and the Western New York community.”
Cytotechnology is a specialty within the spectrum of medical care that involves the microscopic interpretation of cells to detect cancer and other abnormalities. Daemen’s 4+1 program offers students the opportunity to earn in five years a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in cytotechnology in partnership with Roswell Park, where the final year of the program involves intensive, specialized study.
Each year, Daemen’s cytotechnology students are invited to the American Society for Cytotechnology Conference to present their research. “These invitations are both a great privilege and an honor for our students, as well as a source of pride for the dedicated faculty and administrators that shepherd their progress through this program,” said Brogan.
At the end of Daemen’s graduate program, students are eligible to take the national certification exam given by the Board of Registry of the American Society for Clinical Pathology. To date, the college’s cytotechnology students have had a remarkable 100 percent pass rate on the certification exam and a 100 percent job placement rate.
According to the U.S. Bureau for Labor Statistics, the job outlook for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians, including cytotechnologists, is projected to grow 7 percent from 2019 to 2029, faster than the average for all occupations. An increase in the aging population is expected to lead to a greater need to diagnose of medical conditions, such as cancer or type 2 diabetes, through laboratory procedures.
More information on Daemen’s cytotechnology program is available by contacting Dr. Diane Ramos at 839-8560 or dramos@daemen.edu.