Many students begin their educational journey without a clear picture of their end goal or a full understanding of their career post-graduation. This series will shed light on highlighted careers—giving a true behind-the-scenes look at the real aspects of the role, allowing students to be more informed and make a career choice that works best for them in the long-term.
The year was 2005 and Dwane Klostermann, a medical lab scientist (MLS) with a robust resume of on-the-job experiences, was beginning his first year as Moraine Park’s Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) instructor. After serving in professional roles, he had a calling to share this less commonly known area of health care.
“The work of a laboratory technician is vital to overall patient care,” Klostermann said. “In fact, nearly 80 percent of all health care decisions are impacted by the work done by the lab, and as an essential part of the health care system, I wanted to share this industry with students and our future health care workers.”
Since then, Klostermann has developed the MLT program into a close-knit cohort, challenging their academic growth and truly preparing students to be expert laboratory professionals. He also serves as the president of the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS) in Wisconsin. Through this role, he actively supports statewide and national laboratory efforts. Now, as the MLT Department Chair, Klostermann has played a significant role in creating an environment that fully prepares students for the transition to their career. In his tenure, he has helped hundreds of MLT students become successful health care professionals, and for the last 10 years the Moraine Park student pass rates for the MLT certification have been at 100 percent, well above the national average.
“It is such a joy to share this career field and guide individuals along their educational journey,” Klostermann said. “Looking back, watching my students graduate and become professionals in the field has been the most satisfying part of my job. I also serve part-time as a medical laboratory scientist, and I get the honor of working alongside some of my former students. Seeing them apply their skills and knowledge and demonstrate their dedication as thorough laboratory technicians is truly rewarding.”
Klostermann serves in a part-time role as an MLS for Froedtert West Bend Hospital, as one way to remain on top of industry trends and any changes—there he works alongside Sierra Horan, a 2023 alum from Moraine Park’s MLT program.
“I came to Moraine Park looking to begin a career in health care, but had no idea the MLT field existed,” Horan said. “I met Dwane while taking the phlebotomy course and enjoyed the learning. It was ultimately Dwane who convinced me to try the MLT career.”
Now, as colleagues, Horan enjoys having Klostermann as a reference for any questions and continues to serve as a mentor resource on-the-job—and for Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin health network, having the continued connectivity to Moraine Park is a win all around.
“We currently have five MPTC alumni on our laboratory team,” Tim Block, Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin laboratories Manager, said. “The industry as a whole needs more people, and our department is no different. So, when Dwane recommends a student to me, I know they will be an excellent success and hire them every time.”
Block, an MLS like Klostermann, also enjoys sharing the field, and while his path led him to more of an administrative role, he shares his talent as a valued member of Moraine Park’s MLT advisory committee. Each Moraine Park program is led by a committee comprised of industry professionals who help share the current needs and cultivate the curriculum to ensure graduates can easily transition from classroom to workplace.
“I really enjoy the collaboration with Moraine Park,” Block said. “The information gathered from the committee is used to impact classroom learning. Sierra is a really fitting example of this co-created curriculum. Her level of professionalism exceeds expectations, and since joining our team, she has never required much oversight. The training she received fully prepared her for success in the lab.”
Day in the Life of an MLT Professional
Horan was hired by Froedtert West Bend Hospital before graduating from the program and began working immediately after her certification. Like many MLT professionals, she enjoys having the ability to influence patient care without having direct patient contact—their work is completely behind the scenes.
The hidden hospital laboratory is far from glamorous—however, the barely-there noises, interesting smells and continuous flow of incoming orders gives the four walls a life of their own, and at Froedtert West Bend Hospital, it is clear the work of a laboratory professional is one of pride and responsibility.
“On any typical day, I receive specimens from different areas of the hospital, and it is my job to process them in an accurate and timely manner,” Horan said. “There are multiple different testing options that might be required based on the specimen or order from the physician. Despite never having direct patient care, there is a sense of connectivity to some of the individuals who get frequent lab work. Like anyone else in the health care system, our testing follows their health care journey, and it is rewarding to know that the work we do allows physicians to provide a diagnoses and treatment plan.”
At any given time, there are more than a dozen laboratory workers moving about the advanced equipment and processing orders, and each one has an impact on Moraine Park in their own way.
“Our staff plays a vital role in helping during clinical hours when Moraine Park students come to the lab,” Block said. “Each employee has their own path, some pursued an MLS degree right away, while others became phlebotomists and worked their way to their destination.”
The Journey to Become a Laboratory Professional
Many of the laboratory workers begin as phlebotomists and serve in the only patient-facing area of the lab.
The Phlebotomy course is now offered as a dual credit option for high school students—giving them the opportunity to enter the health care field and earn college credits that can be used toward an MPTC degree and beyond before they earn their K-12 diploma.
“All MLT students are required to take the phlebotomy course, making this role a natural first-step, and for some, this remains their lifelong career,” Klostermann said. “I make sure all my students understand their growth options—phlebotomists can seamlessly continue to become an MLT, and after graduation at Moraine Park, students can transfer to one of our partner universities to become an MLS. The options are really robust and can be flexed to fit the timeline and needs of each student.”
Earning Potential
Beyond the feel-good impact of serving patients in many ways, laboratory professionals enjoy a career offering financial security.
Phlebotomist – 2 Credit Course – $37,000*
Medical Laboratory Technician – Associate Degree – $57,671*
Medical Laboratory Scientist – Bachelor’s Degree – $75,838*
Moraine Park’s MLT program consists of 67 college credits and is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). Through a combination of hands-on coursework and a clinical site placement, medical lab technician students learn laboratory safety, practice collecting and processing biological specimens, monitor and evaluate quality control in the laboratory, correlate lab tests to a diagnosis of a condition or disease and more. An MLT is a licensed professional, and upon graduation, Moraine Park students are eligible to sit for the National Board of Certification Exam through the American Society for Clinical Pathology-Board of Certification (ASCP-BOC).
*According to salary.com
For more program and degree information: https://www.morainepark.edu/academics/programs/medical-laboratory-technician/
