SMH Celebrates Medical Lab Week
April 16, 2025
This week is National Medical Laboratory Week, and Stevenson Memorial Hospital (SMH) is celebrating by recognizing its incredible Lab Team. This team of 31 medical lab technologists and medical lab assistants work behind the scenes to complete testing that supports the diagnosis of illnesses in patients and critical patient treatment plans.
This week, the CEO from the Medical Laboratory Professionals Association of Ontario (MLPAO), Michelle Hoad, visited SMH’s Laboratory for a tour, engaged with staff and provided resources and insights on the growing laboratory profession. Also in attendance was Stephanie MacLellan, Deputy Mayor, Town of New Tecumseth.
“We are pleased to recognize our team of laboratory professionals at Stevenson who work around the clock to provide critical services, often lifesaving,” says Susan Woollard, Interim VP Clinical Services and Chief Nursing Executive, SMH. “The tests that they provide are an important component to patient care and we are grateful for their contributions to our hospital.”
“The MLPAO’s theme this year is Testing Through Every Stage of Life, and our goal is to educate the public on the importance of lab professionals, as they test for thousands of diseases and disorders that occur throughout our lives each and every day,” says Hoad, CEO of the MLPAO. “It’s a profession that doesn’t always get the spotlight, as many work behind closed doors. In reality, the Lab is with us on our health care journeys, every step of the way”.
Every year, over 280+ million lab tests are processed in Ontario by dedicated medical laboratory technologists and medical laboratory assistant/technicians. Lab professionals are involved in every aspect of healthcare throughout every stage of life.
Locally at SMH, over 400,000 tests are processed annually which is no small feat. This hardworking and dedicated team provide services 24 hours a day, seven days a week at the hospital in support of patient care. From newborn screening tests detecting critical conditions in infants to prenatal tests supporting healthy pregnancies, routine checkups in kids and young adults, chronic disease management for middle-aged patients, and complex diagnostics for seniors, laboratory testing is woven into the health journey of every individual.
“I am honoured to participate in recognizing the laboratory staff at Stevenson Memorial Hospital and celebrate Medical Laboratory Week,” says Stephanie MacLellan, Deputy Mayor, Town of New Tecumseth. “We are very lucky to have laboratory professionals in our community, who are vital to patient care and provide critical tests needed for diagnosis. Thank you to our local laboratory professionals for all that you do.”
For more information about the MLPAO’s campaign for Medical Laboratory Week, visit www.mlpao.org.