From Lab Training to MLPAO Bursary Winner: Alex’s Medical Laboratory Assistant Technician Journey

Alex’s medical laboratory assistant technician journey took shape over time, through curiosity sparked in the lab, experience gained across science-focused roles, and a steady pull toward work that directly supports patient care. With a background in biotechnology, quality assurance, and early exposure to medical testing, her path reflects thoughtful exploration rather than a single turning point. What ultimately guided her forward was a desire to combine scientific skill with compassion, and to build a career that felt both purposeful and grounded in service.

Building a Medical Laboratory Assistant Technician Journey Through Hands-On Learning

Before enrolling at Anderson College, Alex had already built a strong foundation through postsecondary education and industry experience. What ultimately drew her toward medical laboratory assistance was not only her fascination with lab processes, but the realization that this work aligned deeply with her personal values and lived experience. Choosing Anderson College became the turning point that allowed her to pursue a career she found both meaningful and rewarding.

Her story is one of perseverance, curiosity, and the confidence that comes from the right training and support.

Early Academic and Career Exploration

Alex’s story begins with a strong scientific foundation, and a clear desire to do meaningful work that serves her community.

“I was in school from 2015 to 2019 at Mohawk College. I did a biotechnology health diploma. I worked at Maple Leaf Foods because I wanted to give back to the community through meaningful work. And I really enjoyed being in the microbiology section of Maple Leaf.”

After leaving that company, she went on to continue building her experience.

“I then pursued some work for quality assurance at Toyota in Cambridge. After that, the contract ended there as well. I had always wanted to become a medical lab assistant, even earlier during my schooling at Mohawk, when I completed a co-op with public health that focused on patient testing.

“It was medical lab assistance working there that trained me to do the sorting of the samples, running them on the analyzers. It was incredibly interesting work to me.

“While I was finishing my biotech program, always there in the back of my mind was the thought that maybe I should pursue this in the future. After I finished my contract at Toyota, I decided it was time to go back to school.”

Choosing Anderson College

What stood out for Alex wasn’t just proximity; it was the environment, the people, and the feeling that she would be supported from day one.

“I chose Anderson College because it was a perfectly situated area in Hamilton. I actually live in Hamilton, so it was only about 20 minutes from me. When I looked at the hands-on laboratory set up, it was very well equipped, and the staff there were very, very kind as well. This is what prompted my decision to enroll here, and it was an extremely meaningful time.”

Learning in the MLAT Program

Alex describes a learning experience that felt practical, real, and immediately connected to what employers expect in the field, something she attributes strongly to the MLAT program.

“My instructor was Karla Del Mundo, and she was fantastic. She made the program much easier for us to understand because she was employed at Dynacare. She shared her real-world experience while teaching, which made what we were learning feel realistic and applicable to the workplace.

“The way she taught made learning extremely fun and easy to understand. Some topics could have been challenging for students without a science background, but she explained everything in a way that was understandable for everyone.

“It was a great experience. The lab allowed people to grow, and if you were struggling, you could go to any of the staff for help. They would assist with techniques and make sure you felt supported. Overall, it was such a positive learning experience.”

One-on-One Support and Overcoming Challenges

One of the most remarkable parts of Alex’s experience is how clearly she felt seen and supported, especially when she wanted extra practice and needed help with math.

“At the middle to end part of the program, when we were getting ready to go to our co-op placements, Karla assisted us in doing hand pokes. She worked with me specifically because I told her that I wanted to have more experience, especially since we didn’t know where co-ops were going to be.

“She spent a lot of time working alongside me and giving me additional practice with more advanced venipunctures.

“Another example of her care was with math. It has never been my strong suit, but Karla made it extremely easy to understand when we were learning analytical math.

“I could stay with her after school, and she would show me anything. She was always willing to help anyone who needed it and that meant a lot to me.”

Hands-On Learning in the Lab

Alex explains the lab training in a way that shows just how intentionally the program is designed, each skill building toward the next inside a true clinical skills laboratory environment.

“The overall experience in the lab was really good, and it was very well paced. I found that each module we learned led into the next, and it didn’t feel random.
“The first thing we learned was putting on PPE and cleaning up biological spills, which then led into working with chemicals and understanding how to use PPE properly.

“As we moved further into the program, we began working on dilutions, and everything tied together.

“Each part integrated into the next. It wasn’t suddenly arm pokes and then a completely different topic in class. Each topic was connected to the one before it.”

Practicum Experience and Confidence Building

When Alex speaks about practicum, you can hear the moment her learning became lived experience, and how that strengthened her confidence in a healthcare laboratory career.

“I completed my practicum at Med Health Laboratories on Queenston, and the people who trained me there were amazing. There were two women there who supported me throughout the experience.

“I had a situation where a patient began to faint. Anderson College had prepared me to respond to that kind of scenario. We talked about it many times in class, but seeing it happen in person was different.

“I noticed the patient was sweating and becoming pale, so I discontinued the phlebotomy. I gave them ice, placed it behind their head, and helped them lie down. That was when I realized I could handle a variety of patients, and it was the moment I knew I was ready.

“We worked with elderly patients, people coming directly from the hospital, and people who were unwell. Experiencing all of that helped build my confidence.

“At the beginning, it can be tricky because you walk in with no experience. But the instructors all have experience in other clinical settings, so you’re learning from people who are working in the real world and who support you.

“If you’re having trouble, like finding a vein or following the correct steps, they work with you one-on-one until you’re comfortable. Some of us were very nervous at first, and my instructor was patient and never pressured us.

“Different colleges approach things in different ways, but I found Anderson College to be very personalized.”

Academic Success and the MLPAO Bursary

Alex’s academic excellence and bursary win reflect not only her work ethic, but the collaborative support she consistently describes throughout her learning experience.

“The success I found came from working closely with my teacher and my colleagues. We would get together and talk through assignments, which really helped. The one-on-one time I had with Karla and with my instructors overall was also incredibly valuable. I could receive different feedback from different teachers whenever I was struggling.

“The way the class was taught really supported how I learn, and I know that was true for many of my classmates as well. It makes a difference when a teacher can explain something in a way that everyone understands, and when students are encouraged to collaborate together.”

“I learned about the MLPAO bursary through my teacher, Karla. She explained that applicants needed to write an essay about why they wanted to work in the medical lab profession. The essay I wrote was very personal. I decided to become a medical lab assistant because I’ve had personal health challenges and spent time in and out of hospitals. I wanted to give back to my community through hospital work and patient care.

“That was also why I chose to apply to the program at Anderson. I wrote about being diagnosed with an immunocompromised condition and my desire to give back, as well as the need for financial assistance while balancing school and prescription costs.

“When I received the bursary, I was able to pay down part of my student loan. It was such a relief. I was surprised to learn I had been selected from across Ontario, but the support meant a great deal to me, and it truly helped me continue my education.”

Career Goals and Looking Ahead

Alex is candid about what it takes to enter the field, reflects on the determination it took to pursue medical lab assistant employment and is thrilled to announce that it has all resulted in officially launching her MLAT career!

“It’s been an amazing but intensive process looking for employment, but I’ve had terrific support the whole way through. Although I considered hospital roles, you usually need two to three years of experience. Even though we gain a year of hands-on experience during school, the real world can be different because each lab handles tubes and requisitions in its own way. So, I set my sights on working in clinical environments, specifically LifeLabs. My long-term goal is to work at McMaster, because that’s where I spent a lot of time during my childhood for appointments and transfusions – I just need to gain experience first.

“To get the process rolling, I was in touch with Kerry from the Hamilton campus through Career Services. She’s helped me rewrite my résumé several times and gave me guidance on how to get my foot in the door. I subscribed to her emails, and she regularly sent updates with advice on workplace topics and job searching. Having that kind of ongoing support was invaluable.

“I engaged in a number of interviews and just kept envisioning myself working in a small clinic; and now, I’m thrilled to say, that I’ve been hired with LifeLabs as a lab patient technician!”

Advice for Future Students

Alex’s advice is reassuring, practical, and grounded in her own experience, especially for students who may doubt whether they belong in this field.

“You definitely don’t need to have a science background to understand the program because most of the time the teachers will explain it in a way that you can understand.

“It may be scary at first to get into the lab and start poking people. That part was scary for all of us at the very beginning. But once we got past that first initial fear of the first poke, things were smooth sailing from there.

“Don’t be afraid to ask questions. I asked tons of questions in my class, and so did everyone else. Studying the materials they give you and buckling down really helped me. And if you’re feeling unsure, always know that you can have support from your colleagues and your teachers.”

From Preparation to Possibility

Alex’s story reflects the power of perseverance, curiosity, and hands-on learning, and how the right training environment can help a student grow into a confident healthcare professional through a Medical Laboratory Assistant Technician program. What began as academic exploration evolved into purpose-driven preparation, shaped by practical lab experience, supportive mentorship, and a learning culture that encouraged questions, growth, and resilience.

Through Anderson College’s MLAT training, Alex gained more than technical skills. She developed confidence in her abilities, clarity in her career direction, and a deeper connection to the impact her work can have on patients and communities. Her journey demonstrates how hands-on education, paired with guidance and determination, can open doors to meaningful work and lasting professional growth in healthcare. We congratulate Alex on her new position and know that the positive impact she will have on the lives of others is only just beginning.
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Ready to Take the Next Step?

Alex’s experience shows how practical training and supportive instruction can help students build confidence and move forward with purpose through medical laboratory assistant technician courses.

Explore our Medical Laboratory Assistant Technician program, book a virtual appointment with an Admissions Advisor, or take the MLAT Career Discovery Quiz to see if this path is right for you.