Laura Severs
Hematopathology Scientist/Coordinator for Washington University School of Medicine
Instagram: @lmstevers
Article written by Kylie Cameron
Introduction📖
Laura Severs, MHA, MLS(ASCP) is transitioning from her position as Head of Transfusion Services & Point of Care Testing Coordinator at Carle BroMenn to being a Hematopathology Scientist/Coordinator at Washington University School of Medicine. She has a Bachelors of Science in Medical Laboratory Science from Illinois State University and a Masters in Science in Health Administration from The University of St. Francis.
High School📚
In High School, Laura played Volleyball and was a part of her school’s Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering (WYSE) team, which went on to sectionals. Her senior year, she was also awarded a community scholarship for college! Her favorite classes that she took were Chemistry and Biology. When asked which classes she took that helped her the most she told us, “I took AP science courses which helped me gain invaluable knowledge and experience with complex concepts that further solidified my decision to go into the STEM field. I also took a Health Careers course that was basically a funnel into a CNA program. It was in that class I knew that I wanted to work in health care, but didn’t exactly want to be a nurse.” One tip that she would like to give to current high school students is “Just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean that it is what you’re meant to do. Try lots of different things to find what sets your soul on fire. Being passionate about something is important when choosing a career path.”
College🎓
In college, Laura was a Phi Sigma Biology Symposium Presenter. She was able to present the research her and her team members were doing at ISU regarding bio-fuel and bio-energy. She also participated in Medical Laboratory Science Club and was on the Deans List. When talking about internships, Laura told us that she “was an intern at Carle BroMenn Medical Center. To be a Medical Laboratory Scientist, an internship is built into the curriculum so students can apply their knowledge to real life clinical scenarios.” When we asked her which of her college classes he took help her the most now she said that, “All of my Medical Laboratory Science classes during the last two years. In my prerequisite classes, I’d have to say Analytical Chemistry. It really taught me how to be detail oriented. In my graduate work I most benefited from my Information Technology/IT courses. However, outside of traditional college courses, I was a part of a program called the Multicultural Leadership Program and the curriculum of that program helped me grow as a better communicator and advocate for my patients.” Her favorite classes were Hematology and Immunohematology and the toughest class she took was Clinical Microbiology. One tip that she has for current and future college students is, “Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Seeking to understand and improve your skills and knowledge base is the exact reason you’re in school. Professors want to see their students succeed, and developing relationships with them can prove to pay off in the long run. I’ve been out of school for 10 years and I still talk to my college professors.”
Work-Life👩🔬
Laura is currently in the process of transitioning out of being the Section Head of Transfusion Services and Point of Care Testing Coordinator for Carle BroMenn. In this job, Laura told us that as the Section Head of Transfusion Services she, “oversee[s] the day-to-day operations of a full-service Blood Bank. I also ensure all quality standards, federal, state, and local regulations are met and that all transfusions occur safely and within the best clinical guidelines. I train new staff and students. I am also responsible for bringing in new testing platforms and validating methodologies. As the Point of Care Testing Coordinator, I oversee all of the testings that happen outside of the main laboratory. Generally, this is testing that can be performed with minimal supervision or skill. I oversee all quality metrics, training, and day-to-day operation and function of point-of-care testing. I also bring in new testing methodologies and make sure that testing that is available meets the needs of the clinicians and provides for better patient outcomes.”
Her new job will be as a Hematopathology Scientist/Coordinator for Washington University School of Medicine. She explained this new job to us when she said, “Essentially I will be performing bone marrow analysis to aid in the diagnosis of leukemias and lymphomas. I will work with attending Hematopathologists to arrive at a diagnosis for a patient. I will also work with Pathology Residents to teach them about Hematopathology as they rotate through the areas of Anatomic and Clinical Pathology. I will coordinate case assignments, triage cases, and work with surrounding medical centers, physicians, and care teams to make sure that all patients have their diagnoses in an appropriate time frame. They do also offer opportunities to partake in research as it relates to leukemias and lymphomas.”
When asked for an overview of what she does in a day, Laura told us that, “The amazing thing about working in the medical laboratory is that no two days are the same! If I am in my office, I am generally working on projects, performing statistical analysis on our quality metrics and other business functions of the medical laboratory. If I am working “on the bench” doing patient testing I can be working in a number of different departments. One day I could be in chemistry doing electrolyte panels, lipids, osmolalities, and other tests, and the next day I could be in Blood Bank screening units for a patient with multiple atypical antibodies and rushing blood products to a trauma patient in the Emergency Room. The medical laboratory is a face-paced intellectual environment filled with so many unknowns. We are the ones answering the questions about why someone is experiencing chest pain, or why has their skin become a fluorescent yellow. We are also often the first ones to identify a new leukemia, or renal insufficiency.”
She also told us that before she had either of these jobs she was, and still is, “a certified Medical Laboratory Scientist. I perform complex testing on human specimens using a variety of clinical testing methods. I am trained to be proficient in clinical chemistry, hematology, coagulation, immunohematology, clinical microbiology, and toxicology. I work with many complex instruments and testing platforms. I correlate results with clinical conditions to ensure the most accurate results are presented to the clinician. 70% of a physician’s diagnostic power comes from results generated by a medical laboratory, and those results contribute to 90% of the patient’s objective data in their medical history.”
One of the challenges she said she has faced in her job is that “Working in the clinical environment can take an emotional toll because you are surrounded with illness and disease. You also have to recall a lot of information on a wide variety of clinical subjects at a moment’s notice. However, with those challenges come new opportunities for self-improvement.” Despite the hardships, we also asked her what makes her keep wanting to come back to this job every day, and she told us that, “Even on the most trying of days, I always return because of my why. I implore people to discover their why. My why, the reason I do what I do, is because I want to make this world a better place. I want to put good into the lives of others. For me, that looks like performing a white cell differential or being at the bedside with a unit of packed red cells for an anemic patient. Whatever your purpose is, always come back to it.” She also said that in this work she is “inspired by the diversity within my team. There is diversity in background, education, and thought. All of which makes us stronger. I am also inspired by every person’s desire to do their best. It is uplifting to see what people can accomplish when they work together for the good of a patient.”
When asked how she thinks this job has helped her grow she said, “This job has taught me about resilience and the value of human life. I have seen a lot of complex medical cases and clinical scenarios in my 10 years as a medical scientist, and each of those patients holds a special place in my heart. I have been given the gift of scientific aptitude to be able to help members of my community overcome some of the most challenging diagnoses. I have also learned how to be a better, more compassionate communicator. Scientific advances in medicine are always progressing, so this career has turned me into a life-long learner. To stay relevant in a fast-paced, ever-changing field I must continue to learn and sharpen my skills.” In the future, Laura hopes to “be a more proficient scientist and hone my diagnostic skills in hematologic oncology. I would also like to be a part of research to help aid in the treatment of malignant hematologic diseases.”
Laura says that she loves her career in STEM because, “I love learning how things work, and the imaginative process that is all things STEM. Making discoveries and learning about the world around me is fascinating. A career in STEM is for those seeking to understand the why, how, and what of the world. I love that I am rewarded for always staying curious.”
Hobbies and Volunteer Work🚀
Outside of the workplace, Laura enjoys cooking and loves to try out new recipes. She also loves being outdoors. Laura says that she is a “ connoisseur of craft beer and really enjoy[s] learning about the art of making a stellar craft brew.” Laura also volunteers in her free time with “Wish Bone Canine Rescue. I am also a Career Ambassador for the American Society for Clinical Pathology. I engage with students, student groups, schools, and other organizations to inform others about the amazing opportunities within the Medical Laboratory field. I have also volunteered for Young Hearts for Life which provides EKG screenings to high school students.” As for side projects, Laura told us, “Outside of my day-to-day job I am always doing continuing education through a variety of portals. I am always on the quest to learn.”
She is also an active member of the American Society for Clinical Pathology and in 2018, I was awarded Top 40 Under Forty Leaders in Laboratory Medicine by ASCP. Laura also won an Alumni Achievement Award from Illinois State University. and In 2019, she was awarded the Career Ambassador Achievement Award by ASCP for her extensive work within the community educating students about careers in the Medical Laboratory.
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