85th Anniversary News and Activities
85th Anniversary Gala Celebration
The Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics Program celebrated its 85th Anniversary with a Gala held on April 21, 2012 at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center. There, alumni, current students, and some perspective students gathered for a day of adventure on the campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing. The day started off with a bus tour of the Cylotron, Recycling Center, tours of North Kedzie Hall, and Giltner Hall.
Special guests included Dr. Esther Brown, who was the first medical technology program director in 1960. Dr. Brown has created an endowment fund, that will foster scholarships to help BLD students. Dr. Robert Brooks, the second named Director from 1967, flew in from Florida where he now resides with his wife. Jean Clark, alum from 1950, was in attendance as well. Dr. John Gerlach, current Director, delivered a presentation outlining the journey of the Medical Technology Program to the Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics Program and presented a panel discussion with former students and friends who spoke about their experiences working in the lab and attending Michigan State University. Dr. Gladys Thomas, not a former Med Tech student, but friend and instructor was a panelist, as well. She worked for the Department of Consumer and Industry Service for the State of Michigan until her retirement in 2001. Dr. Thomas was also an alumni from the Master's program in Microbiology, where she was advised by Dr. Evelyn Sanders. The audience had a chance to participate as well by sharing stories about technology of the time, as well as new technologies were discussed with each generation being amazed at how laboratory testing is/was done. Topics included not being protected against diseases that were transmitted from the samples they were testing to a frank discussion of how industry standards and practices changed during the AIDS epidemic. There were over 100 participants that were greeted by Sparty during the reception in Big Ten C. The food for the reception was provided by a generous gift from Covance, a nationally known lab system and partner of the BLD program. After dinner, a current student panel, led by Dr. Kathy Doig, previous Director, in which students got a chance to explain to the Alumni what it is like today to take classes. Each of the students answered questions posed by Dr. Doig and left the alumni with a good idea of how things have changed since the time when they attended classes at MSU. Some were shocked when calculators were allowed instead of slide rules - but they were really floored to find out how computers are being used in our classrooms. The evening was serenaded by a quartet from the College of Music and a silent auction helped to build the Esther Brown Endowment Fund. Donated items were from various places including Lynda.com, Azziz Jewlers, NCG Theaters, Capital City International Airport just to name a few.
The winner of the 85th Anniversary seminar series is Lyn Thompson from Libby, Montana. Lyn watched and completed all six seminars online and was entered into a contest where the prize includes two credits of post baccalaureate tuition, valued at over $1400. Congratulations Lyn!
Here are some photos of the event. For a copy of the photo CD, which contains over 100 images, please use the link below to make a $20 donation to the Esther Brown Endowment Fund. The CD may be taken to any photo finishing lab such as Meijer, Kroger, Walgreens, etc where you may select the photos you want printed in a high quality resolution manner. Pictured below are: Bob Brooks, Peg Mitchell with Sparty, Deborah Hollis, Jean Clark, Glenda McGabney.
To order your Photo CD today - please go to our website https://commerce.cashnet.com/msu_3681_bld_main. Please allow 3-6 weeks for delivery. Thanks!
