Student Experience: Oanh Kim Nguyen, MLT(ASCP)

“When I first came to the U.S. from Vietnam, I worked in a Vietnamese restaurant and then a clothing store. Then I began working in an electronics company, but I was laid off. I felt shocked about losing my job, and I began thinking of changing careers to something more stable. 

“My first experience at community college was taking ESL classes at Richland and Brookhaven, which were close to where I lived. Then when I started exploring what kind of program I wanted to take for a career change, I saw Medical Laboratory Technology and transferred to El Centro. 

“Lisa Lock is very patient with students. The program can be very fast-paced, especially if you’re taking classes during the summer or Maymester. But she explains things so well that you can understand them and keep up. 

“I always tell people who are thinking about community college to think about Medical Laboratory Technology, and I tell them about my personal experience with the program. It’s a stable job, in a quiet environment with a lot less stress than many other medically related fields, and the people are very friendly and professional. I really love my job.”

  Kim Nguyen is an MLT in the hematology and chemistry department of Methodist Medical Center of Dallas, where she analyzes and verifies tests. She earned an associate degree in Medical Laboratory Technology from El Centro in 2007 and was immediately hired by the hospital following a clinical rotation there.

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