Alum encourages more lab professionals with scholarship
Science always came easy to Lisa M. Pinkney, D.M.
The analytics, the formulas — she loved it all, especially when she applied it to the science of the human body, and in particular, blood.
Initially thinking she’d pursue medicine, Dr. Pinkney instead became fascinated with medical laboratory sciences (MLS). In hospitals and medical labs everywhere, MLS professionals administer and analyze blood and other tests, identify new strains of bacteria and study how to fight them, research immune system responses to infections, and so much more. During the COVID-19 pandemic, lab professionals were critical leaders in developing rapid antigen tests that allowed health providers to test for the novel coronavirus.
VCU was a safe space for me to learn and grow and I loved the environment there.
-Lisa M. Pinkney, D.M.
Dr. Pinkney earned her bachelor’s degree in the Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences at the VCU College of Health Professions.
The program unlocked her potential, leading the Washington, D.C., native to a fulfilling career in lab sciences. Now a Georgia resident, she retired in 2022 from a role as program manager in the Office of Regulatory Management at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
She said VCU gave her the tools to succeed professionally as well as a strong network of alumni on whom she could lean when she needed support. In thinking about ways to give back, she wanted to help others find their calling among MLS disciplines like immunology, hematology and microbiology.
She established the Dr. Lisa M. Pinkney Scholarship in 2022 for students pursuing medical laboratory sciences at the college.
“VCU was the institution I needed at that point in my life, and I’m very proud of how it’s grown and become one of Virginia’s strongest institutions,” she said. “VCU was a safe space for me to learn and grow and I loved the environment there. I made some very close friends that I’ve known for 40 years.”
The scholarship will help ease financial burdens for students while promoting careers in medical lab sciences.
“Education is very important to me,” Dr. Pinkney said. “A lot of people work full time while studying medical laboratory sciences, which is very challenging, so I’m hoping the scholarship aids people who may be struggling and who want to make a difference in the field.”
Dr. Pinkney said the field of medical laboratory sciences is projected to have significant staffing shortages over the next decade, potentially as many as 100,000 jobs. She hopes the scholarship will encourage future students to consider these rewarding career paths.
“Medical laboratory science is often underappreciated as a medical profession, but we’re just as critical as direct care providers to understanding and improving the patient care experience.” Dr. Pinkney said. “It’s important to promote the industry and show its value, because these roles truly help provide essential context for the health and safety of patients.”
If you would like to support the Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences at the VCU College of Health Professions, please contact T. Greg Prince, Ed.D., the college’s senior director of development, at 804-828-7247 or tgprince@vcu.edu.