When Lauren Bassaro attended Bishop Carroll, she was always a very ambitious student who set her goals high and set out to achieve them. This 2011 alum has done great work in the years since her graduation.
After graduating from Bishop Carroll, Lauren attended George Washington University, earning a Master of Science in Health Science Degree in Clinical Microbiology. She is currently studying at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, working towards her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Biology Program with a concentration in Clinical Laboratory Sciences.
Lauren recently won the Roland M. Nardone Award for Graduate Teaching Excellence. She has been a teaching assistant for the Microbiology Laboratory course offered at CUA every semester since she began her program at the university. She says, “This course is designed with nursing students in mind and is geared toward the clinical aspects of microbiology.” Dr. Tuma, Chair of the Biology Department at Catholic U, said about her, “This award honors a Biology graduate TA who has excelled in teaching. The recipient’s performance goes well beyond just preparing for labs and grading reports in a timely and responsible fashion. The recipient of this award also exhibits solid teaching in the lab class itself – providing guidance, instruction, and support to the students enrolled in the course. This is the TA that goes well beyond the call of duty and exemplifies promise in teaching excellence.”
Not only is she very busy in her pursuit of her PhD, she also has been working at the MedStar Washington Hospital Center in the Clinical Microbiology Lab. In the microbiology lab, they receive patient specimens and perform the appropriate measures and tests to determine what microorganism, if any, is causing an infection or disease with the patient. They also perform appropriate following measures to determine the best method of treatment for the patient and give all of this information to the health care providers. But behind the scenes, there is much more work being performed on testing.
Lauren explains that her work ethic has been recognized at the hospital and is given more responsibility all the time. “I continue to be assigned this responsibility because of my organized documentation and efficient work ethic, which my laboratory management has recognized,” she said. Included in those validations was the first testing platform that the hospital provided to test patients for COVID-19 at the beginning of the pandemic. Lauren said, “I feel honored to be assigned such a responsibility. I take pride in the way I work, and I am beyond happy to know that I was able to play a role from the very beginning of the pandemic to be able to test patient samples in a timely manner, ensuring patients begin treatment and/or had symptoms monitored as soon as possible.”
She believes that in order to succeed in a career path involving scientific research, one must truly have a love for the field. “This career path is a very exciting one, as you are consistently presented with a new challenge or questions and you get to figure out how things come together, like pieces of a puzzle. Always go after and work hard for what you are passionate about!”
Lauren speaks very highly about how Bishop Carroll has prepared her for where she is today. “At Bishop Carroll, I had a number of teachers that presented the material with such enthusiasm that it could only contribute to my interest and allow it to grow. I enjoyed all the advanced classes that were offered at the time at BC. Although challenging, these classes could not have prepared me more for my college years. It was also an honor to be nominated for and win the Women in Science Award in Chemistry from Seton Hill University during my junior year, and I only have Ms. Rickard to thank for that! Bishop Carroll had many strong women teaching both science and math during my years of attendance and these women served as a strong foundation of inspiration to get me to where I am thus far. I had plenty of strong role models that have taught me to stand up for myself, work hard, and make my voice known, for the work I am doing is of great significance, and I plan on making an impact with the work in my career.”
Here at Bishop Carroll, we are extremely proud of the work that Lauren has done and continues to do. In the midst of a pandemic, it is an honor to have an alum doing such wonderful work in the field of medicine to help others. She truly embodies the spirit of BCCHS! Congratulations, Lauren!