Work First!
ADVANCE: What prompted you to enter the laboratory profession?
Dr. Freeman: I enjoyed chemistry and microbiology courses in college, especially the laboratory portion. Additionally, I got a part-time job as a phlebotomist working from 6 to 8 a.m. before classes started. This introduced me to the working laboratory world. Based on my interests and experiences, my husband suggested that I look into medical technology (originally, I was going to be a nurse). It was with his support that I finished my bachelor's degree and entered medical technology school.

ADVANCE: How did you choose your discipline?
Dr. Freeman: Before I began MT school, I finished my bachelor's in biochemistry. Biochemistry tied biology and chemistry together into a practical aspect that made sense. I also learned about instrumentation and techniques, such as spectrophotometers, chromatography and electrophoresis. I enjoyed working with instruments and troubleshooting problems. Although I worked in other areas after graduation, chemistry continued to be what I loved so I looked for jobs in that area.

ADVANCE: How did you obtain your first job in the laboratory industry?
Dr. Freeman: My first job was in a research lab at the University of Texas-Austin. The lab was unusual, as it was one of the few that hired medical technologists instead of research assistants. We were able to introduce quality control into the lab and apply it to the radioimmunoassay procedures that we performed. As a result of my husband's job in the Air Force, we moved one year later to Hawaii. There, I obtained employment on the night shift where I worked in all laboratory areas.

ADVANCE: What are the greatest rewards of your work?
Dr. Freeman: I enjoy working with students and seeing them grow into professionals.

ADVANCE: What makes you a leader in the laboratory industry?
Dr. Freeman: I believe that I am a leader in CLS education, as I have worked to find more flexible methods to educate individuals to be laboratory professionals. It is important to have a career track in the laboratory for individuals to advance from lab assistants to MLTs to MLSs and on to laboratory supervisors. We have developed many tracks in our CLS program to allow students to enter the field and complete their degrees.

Additionally, we have developed master level programs and are in the process of developing a doctorate in CLS for advanced practitioners. I have also worked with faculty to develop and use innovative teaching methods to expand educational opportunities to clinical laboratory science students and practitioners in underserved areas.

Vicki Freeman, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CMSC, FACB, has traveled to several countries professionally with the President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief and with mission teams. ADVANCE thanks Dr. Freeman

ADVANCE: Reflecting on your career thus far, would you have predicted you would be where you are today when you first entered the profession?
Dr. Freeman: When I graduated from MT school, I planned to be a bench technologist and had no plans to continue my education. I would not have thought that I would obtain graduate degrees and become a faculty member at a university.

However, in one of my early jobs, I had the opportunity to teach and I found that I enjoyed it. Therefore, I pursued jobs and further education that would allow me to gain needed experience and skills. I am constantly amazed at the positions I have attained, but will admit that I have worked hard to obtain each position. I am proud to be an educator of new laboratory professionals.

ADVANCE: What profession does your spouse work in? Compare/contrast this with your work.
Dr. Freeman: My husband, Steve, spent 20 years in the Air Force as a computer analyst. He now has his own consulting firm which specializes in testing voting machines as well as working with accreditation of testing laboratories (not medical). It is interesting to see some of the similarities in the standards for voting machines and laboratory instrumentation. We often have discussions about how to assess laboratories and determine if they are meeting standards.

ADVANCE: How do you balance work with enjoying grandchildren?
Dr. Freeman: I do not balance my work very well, it seems like I am always online with either my computer or BlackBerry. I can't decide if the technology allows us to be more efficient or if it just means we are always working. However, I do like to spend time with my granddaughters who are ages 16, 5 and 3. I enjoy playing games with the family.

Now Play!
ADVANCE: How do you relax?
Dr. Freeman: I like to read murder mystery books, especially those that include women detectives or medical examiners. I enjoy books based on sites that I have either visited or lived in--I understand more about the undercurrents of the plots based on my knowledge of the culture.

ADVANCE: What is your next travel destination?
Dr. Freeman: Our next destination is Israel over Thanksgiving. We are taking our 16-year-old granddaughter along. I have traveled to several African countries both professionally with President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief and with mission teams. I enjoy traveling and learning about different cultures. I don't like to only go on guided tours, but like to work with the people and learn their ways. I believe that we underestimate what we can learn from others by assuming that our way is the only right way.

ADVANCE: Where can you be found on a Friday or Saturday night?
Dr. Freeman: I enjoy ballroom dancing with my husband. We take lessons twice a week. On the weekend, we can probably be found at a dance club. We recently performed a bolero for the Alpha Mu Tau Fraternity to raise scholarship funds for CLS students.

Karen Appold is a medical writer based in Royersford, PA. Visit http://www.writenowservices.com/ for more information. Please e-mail KarenAppold@comcast.net if you would like to recommend someone to be featured in this column.