Completion ceremony celebrates newly trained phlebotomists
At the phlebotomy completion ceremony are back row from left MCC President Dr. Thomas
Huebner, Emma City, Wandalla Campbell, Lorin Greene, Shelley Boyd, Wanda Smith, Shannon
Reynolds, Allexus Hamilton, and Phlebotomy Instructor Krystal Holifield. Center row
from left are Marquelle Blanks, LaBreasha Scott, Natina Norman, and Baileigh Primeaux.
Front row from left are Yolanda Randle, Justice Harris, and Bethany Junkins.
For six months, 14 students in Meridian Community College’s Phlebotomy Essentials Program have studied, drawn and collected blood samples, and performed at least 100 sticks. Now they’re ready to prepare for their national certification.
Celebrated during a completion ceremony at the College’s Workforce Development Center were phlebotomy students Marquelle Blanks, Shelley Boyd, Wandalla Campbell, Emma City, Lorin Greene, Allexus Hamilton, Justice Harris, Bethany Junkins, Natina Norman, Baileigh Primeaux, Yolanda Randle, Shannon Reynolds, LeBreasha Scott, and Wanda Smith.
The students learned medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, blood collection techniques, and safety procedures during their studies. MCC partners with Anderson Regional Health Systems, Rush Health Systems, and other health care facilities to offer this program. The hospitals provide the clinical experience, and each student is assigned a location and a phlebotomist who mentors the students.
MCC Clinical Education Coordinator and Instructor for the Medical Laboratory Technology Program Krystal Holifield serves as the instructor for this Phlebotomy Essentials Program. An alumna of MCC, Holifield has worked at the College for nine years and has maintained a position in the medical laboratory field for 12 years.
During the completion ceremony, phlebotomy student Bethan Junkins noted that Holified served as an instructor and as a role model. “Although she may not continue to be our instructor, she will always be a part of our lives,” Junkins said.