Pathology Employees Teach Phlebotomy to VCU Medical Students

The Department of Pathology held a reception on August 13, 2007 to thank employees who participated in the phlebotomy workshop for third year medical students at VCU on July 26, 2007. This was the seventh time that training in phlebotomy was offered to medical students. “This practical experience had been missing from the medical school curriculum for several years until students requested it in 2001. The number of students participating was approximately 100 yearly until the VCU School of Medicine made it mandatory in 2006. Since then about 150 students have been involved each year,” according to Dr. Richard McPherson, Professor of Pathology, who has directed the sessions.

He also added, “I am deeply grateful to all the Pathology staff who have played roles in this exercise. They ordered tests and printed computer labels in advance, prepared individual bags of supplies, provided direct instruction to students as they drew blood on their classmates, transported blood specimens from the Medical Sciences Building to the laboratory, accessioned the tubes of blood, and performed testing in the hematology and chemistry laboratories. I want to express my sincere thanks to all of them and especially to the phlebotomists, technologists, nurses, residents, and faculty who stood at the side of students as they performed their initial phlebotomies. This educational exercise is highly regarded by medical students who are naturally apprehensive about passing this fundamental milestone of their medical education. Our department has established an outstanding mechanism by which all students are guaranteed formal, expert training in phlebotomy that will serve future patients well.”

Reception

August 13, 2007

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