75 years strong

Pasquale "Pat" Barbato is one of the oldest living alumni of the University of Delaware Department of Medical and Molecular Sciences (MMSC).

A proud Delaware native, Barbato met his wife of 58 years during a clinical rotation. He graduated from UD in 1963 with a bachelor of science in medical technology (MT). The major is now known as medical laboratory science (MLS).

"The MT program was a great way to work in medicine without spending half my life in medical school," said Barbato, who later worked at Wilmington Hospital.

Nearly a decade later, Cheryl Katz followed in his footsteps, earning her MT degree from UD in 1972. She said the program gave her a solid foundation and left her feeling confident as she entered the workforce.

"The strength of our training stemmed from hands-on exposure to instrumentation and a solid foundation in the sciences," said Katz, who retired as vice president of pathology and laboratory services at ChristianaCare. "We didn't just learn the testing procedure - we understood the theory behind how clinical diagnoses, such as leukemia, are made in the lab. That set UD graduates apart."

In their careers, both Barbato and Katz looked forward to welcoming Blue Hens into their labs.

"We always knew what we were getting: high-performing, tech-savvy employees," Barbato said. "They were the future and helped keep us on our toes."

"It was always delightful to have students come into the lab environment," Katz said. "The hands-on experience in a working hospital lab was beneficial to the UD students and rewarding for the MLS lab staff. I think students valued their time at ChristianaCare because it exposed them to so much."

The same strong reputation continues today as the MMSC Department celebrates 75 years of science saving lives.