For Immediate Release
Contact: Daniel Wackershauser, Marketing and PR Specialist
Phone: 608.822.2303
Mail: 1800 Bronson Blvd., Fennimore, WI 53809
Date of Release: February 5, 2026
From exploration to impact: Poad’s MLT journey
Fennimore -Livie Poad didn’t arrive at college with a perfectly mapped-out plan, and she’s glad she didn’t. A second-year student in Southwest Wisconsin Technical College’s Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) associate degree program, Poad’s path reflects a reality many students face after high school: taking time to explore, learn and discover what truly fits.
Poad, a Mineral Point, Wisconsin, native and 2023 high school graduate, began her college journey by taking general education courses at Southwest Tech, working different jobs and shadowing several programs. Everything changed when she sat in on a single MLT class. “I was like, ‘You know what? I think this is where I want to start,’” she said.
Now 21, Poad is immersed in a fast-paced, hands-on program that keeps her constantly engaged; exactly what she was looking for. “I hate being bored,” she said. “I like to be busy, and I like knowing that what I’m doing matters.”
MLTs play a critical behind-the-scenes role in health care, analyzing blood and bodily fluids to help diagnose illnesses, monitor treatments and guide patient care. While patients may never meet the lab professionals supporting their care, Poad finds meaning in knowing her work can help save lives. “We get to see what’s going on inside the body,” she said. “We can figure out blood types, how well someone’s blood is working, or what’s causing pain or illness.”
One of her favorite areas of study is microbiology, where she examines bacteria that cause disease. “It’s incredible that something so small can cause so many problems,” she said. “And even better that we can identify it and help figure out how to treat it.”
Poad recently began her clinical rotations at Southwest Health in Platteville, Wisconsin, gaining experience in chemistry and coagulation labs, where she analyzes cholesterol, glucose, enzymes and blood clotting factors. After spring break, she will complete her remaining clinicals at Grant Regional Health Center in Lancaster, Wisconsin.
Despite stepping into a busy hospital environment, Poad said she felt confident and prepared from day one. “I could connect what I learned in class to what I was seeing in the lab,” she said. “I knew what tests to run and how to report results.”
As she looks toward graduation and national board exams, Poad credits the program’s faculty for preparing students for long-term success. “If you like science, problem-solving and helping people, even behind the scenes, this is a great career,” she said. “Health care is always needed, and this program sets you up for it.”
• Explore an MLT career: swtc.edu/mlt
| Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is one of 16 institutions that comprise the Wisconsin Technical College System. The college was named the winner of the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence in 2025. Southwest Tech offers more than 60 programs in a wide variety of disciplines. Courses are offered on campus, online, HyFlex and in a blended format. The college provides apprenticeship, certificate, technical diploma, and associate degree programs that respond to district workforce needs and prepare student for family-sustaining jobs and career advancement. |