I Stayed Put but Kept Moving Forward: My Growth as a Medical Lab Scientist

STORY BY ANGELA TOMEI ROBINSON MS MLS ASCPcm 

January 6, 2026

AI Generated Image (Artlist)

Looking down at my commemorative bracelet for 25 years of service, I realized I only ever planned on being here for six months. My goal was a career in the big city, not at a suburban hospital. So, how did this happen? There’s a long-running notion that staying in the same place too long can stall professional growth and make you less marketable. Yet my own path tells a different story: from the bench scientist to lead tech, then supervisor, manager, and Associate Administrative Director.

When I was in high school, it was normal to take a career questionnaire. Despite having interests in everything, the result always pointed me toward science and medicine. With the guidance of my counselor, I set my sights on a four-year accredited program in Clinical Laboratory Science (CLS). Back then, little was known about CLS. Although it has since been nationally standardized as Medical Laboratory Science (MLS), the profession is still often overshadowed by the unwavering spotlight on physicians, nurses and academic-track scientists. But think about this: have you ever had your blood drawn and then received your results a couple of days later? It’s not wizards or magical creatures working behind the scenes; it’s the hard work of medical laboratory professionals - analyzing human samples for accurate diagnosis and treatment, a true compliment to the healthcare system.

After completing my program and internships, I was hooked on the precision of laboratory testing in patient care, quickly becoming nationally board-certified and state licensed. My first position as a bench tech at a major medical teaching hospital set everything in motion. The pace of growth was faster than I expected, and I soon realized that anchoring myself in this hospital would be better for my professional development than moving from one facility to another.

I took on roles as an instructor and advanced from lead tech to weekend supervisor, and ultimately pathology manager. Outside of regular hours, I consulted for physician office labs and after getting my master’s, I taught as an Adjunct Professor in several medical laboratory science programs. My upward career mobility showed no signs of slowing, and I was eventually appointed Associate Administrative Director, overseeing risk management, quality assessment, and the laboratory information system in the Anatomic and Clinical Divisions, while also leading education in the Clinical Division of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine.

Admittedly, moving up the ranks came with its ups and downs. On one hand, I knew the ins and outs, had the background, and could bring fresh, creative ideas. On the other hand, senior staff often still saw me as the “young newbie.” I had to learn how to balance becoming a practical and objective boss while also building a sense of teamwork. One piece of advice that stuck: Do not be the "BOSS", be a leader. And that’s what I did, I became a bridge between administration that had its expectations but did not always provide the tools, and staff who had their own needs with the same limited resources. It took time, perseverance, and confidence to earn everyone’s respect. Eventually, people saw results they could not argue with. Workflows smoothed out, productivity went up, and more importantly, people wanted to join and stay. We built something that felt like a professional family, flexible, supportive, and fair.

Now, semi-retired, I continue advocating for MLS careers with articles, conferences, zooms, podcasts. What began as a 6-month plan turned into 25-years shaped by a hospital that never lost sight of what matters most: patient care. Along the way, I found supportive leadership, resourceful environments, and teams of qualified colleagues who became like family. It turned out that professional growth doesn’t always mean moving on; sometimes it means growing where you are planted and most importantly, nourished.

Have an interesting career story? Share it with us at info.dearscientists@gmail.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

---

Angela Tomei Robinson, MS, MLS, ASCPcm, is a semi-retired medical laboratory professional with over 45 years of experience in Medical Laboratory Science. A graduate of St. John’s University, she was the first medical laboratory student inducted into the President’s Society in 1979 and received the Outstanding Medical Technology Student of the Year award.

​

Nationally certified by the American Society of Clinical Pathology, Angela advanced from bench technologist to Associate Administrator of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, leading quality assurance, education, and risk management initiatives. She has been recognized with multiple honors, including the St. John's University College of Pharmacy of Health Sciences Distinguished Practitioner of the Year and the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science - NY Lifetime Achievement Award.

A passionate advocate for laboratory professionals’ right to practice, Angela became the first licensed medical laboratory professional on Long Island and continues to serve on the NYS Office of Professions board. She remains active as a writer, speaker, and advocate for the value of medical laboratory science.

---

Joselyn N. Allen, PhD

Editor