Christol Long ’21 has a vision: she sees herself on an airplane when someone needs emergency medical care. The flight attendant calls out, “Is there a doctor on board?” and Long calls back, “I’m a doctor, I can help!”

“I want to be that person,” she said. “Wherever you go on this planet, there will always be someone in need of medical care, and the ability to administer medical care is so vital.”

Long earned her B.S. in medical laboratory science in May and is on track to become the doctor in her dreams. She spent the semester before graduation in a clinical practicum at Massachusetts General Hospital working alongside laboratory professionals analyzing biological specimens and performing scientific tests. Long thrives on work that involves critical thinking and problem-solving in a rapidly changing environment. It’s what fascinates her about emergency medicine, and what she loved about her major.

“I enjoy the hands-on, fast-paced clinical medical laboratory setting. There are so many applications—urinalysis for diseases, wound culture swabs, hematology, blood typing for bone marrow transplants and transfusions,” she said. “I was excited to see it in action in my clinical rotation.”

Long was the first in her family to graduate from high school, and she was the first to earn a college degree. She says she appreciates the financial support she received throughout her time at UVM. Since graduation, she’s been working as a medical laboratory scientist while planning for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and applying to medical schools.

“I can become board certified and start working right away in my field, putting money aside for the MCATs,” she said. “I could also have a substantial career in medical laboratory science over the years, and it may lead to a management position in a lab. I have so many options with this degree.”

But emergency medicine remains at the top of her list. “Working in the E.R. is so intense. Everyone is so brave. I want to be able to help,” she said.