MLT Classroom Experiences Prepare Student for Clinicals, Career

Emilie Jenson, Public Information Office
2/16/2024

Molly Wittrock - Humboldt, IA MLT Student

Molly Wittrock knew from the time she was just a young child that she wanted to work in the medical field.

“I thought I might be in the nursing program until I took a chemistry class in high school and just really liked the subject,” said Wittrock, a second-year student in Iowa Central’s Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) Program.

It was a job shadow in the laboratory at Humboldt County Memorial Hospital when she was still in high school that solidified her interest in lab.

“I fell in love with it and knew it was what I wanted to do,” said Wittrock.

Following high school graduation, Wittrock attended basic training for the United States Air Force where she became a medic and still serves in that capacity today in the Iowa Air National Guard.

Her military medic experience introduced Wittrock to some of the basic principles of MLT before she enrolled in the program.

“We learned the blood draw basics in the military,” said Wittrock. “Coming into the program, I had some experience before I got here which made things less intimidating.”

As a student, Wittrock appreciates the hands-on learning and real-world simulation the MLT program offers.

“The program really covers a broad spectrum of things,” she said. “Iowa Central prepares you for just about anything that could happen in the lab; we do manual tests and are prepared for situations like what you do if your analyzer goes down and how to have a good back-up system.”

Wittrock is completing her clinical portion of the MLT program at Iowa Specialty Hospital and Clinics in Clarion. She said her classroom and lab training prepared her well for clinicals.

“What we learned in the classroom, we see and do a lot of the same in clinicals, so I feel like we were well prepared,” said Wittrock.

As she prepares for the workforce, Wittrock is confident she and her classmates will succeed when it comes time to take the board exam.

“In class we do mock boards,” she said. “It gives us an opportunity to see where we are, what we know and what we need to work on. Our classes really do hit so many of the details of what you’ll see on boards.”

Wittrock has enjoyed the experience in the MLT program and said that along with the challenges comes a great support system.

“I love how our class is like one big family,” she said. “We all know each other, and everyone is so supportive, you can reach out to anyone anytime in and outside of the classroom. It’s a great support system.”

Wittrock encourages anyone considering the MLT program to visit campus and spend a day with students and instructors.

“I strongly recommend coming and sitting in with the program for a day,” she said. “You’ll gain so much insight into what an MLT does. It is so much more than just drawing blood.”

Upon completion of the program, Wittrock will work for Iowa Specialty Hospital and hopes to further her education to obtain a bachelor's degree as a medical laboratory scientist.

For more infomation on the Iowa Central MLT Program visit https://www.iowacentral.edu/health_science/medical_lab_tech/index.asp