Eleven successful University of Wisconsin Oshkosh graduates have been chosen to receive top honors for 2023 by the Alumni Association Board of Directors. In the months leading up to Homecoming—during which they’ll be honored at an on-campus ceremony—we will introduce you to these outstanding alumni. The full list of award winners is available here.
It’s no question that Kathryn Golab, of New Berlin, has discovered her passion within the medical laboratory science profession.
Since her graduation from UW Oshkosh in 2016, the medical laboratory science (formerly medical technology) major has dedicated herself to improving, as well as building awareness and understanding, of the relatively under-recognized career field.
Kathryn Golab
Her passion and dedication to increasing professional visibility for the profession have earned her an Outstanding Young Alumni Award from her alma mater. She is one of the three exceptional alumni who will be recognized with this award by the UWO Alumni Association at Homecoming this fall.
Golab’s professional career began immediately after graduation as a medical laboratory scientist at Wisconsin Diagnostic Laboratories (WDL) in Milwaukee.
Since then, she has steadily worked her way up within the organization, now serving as a clinical utilization specialist. She’s also in the process of earning her Doctorate of Clinical Laboratory Science (DCLS) at Rutgers University in New Jersey, currently a resident set to graduate in 2024.
Aside from her career, Golab volunteers countless hours, serves on numerous committees and task forces, and offers presentations centered around improving and promoting the medical laboratory science profession.
She also serves in multiple leadership roles within the primary professional organizations for the field, including the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science and American Society for Clinical Pathology.
“Our profession needs more nationally visible experts in the realm of healthcare and laboratory medicine to provide accurate science communication and health literacy. Golab has certainly provided the energy, expertise and advocacy that our field needs,” said Rodney Rhode, a professional colleague of Golab’s and chair of the Clinical Laboratory Science program at Texas State University.
Golab addresses many issues affecting the medical laboratory science profession by developing academic publications, performing research projects and providing a spotlight on these issues through the use of social media.
UWO played a huge role in shaping her passion and success.
“UWO offers a very thorough and comprehensive curriculum that covers all major aspects of the knowledge needed prior to beginning my professional career. Without the education, values, knowledge and skills exhibited by the instructors, my professional career would not have taken the trajectory it is currently on,” Golab said.
“I will be one of the youngest DCLS graduates in the country when I graduate next year, and I am already involved at the national level in multiple professional organizations. This is all thanks to UWO and the skills and education I received there.”
The 2023 Alumni Awards Celebration will be held Oct. 27 at the Culver Family Welcome Center, with a reception at 5 p.m. followed by the dinner and program beginning at 6 p.m. The cost of the event is $40 per person. For more information, contact UWO’s Alumni Relations Office at (920) 424-3449 or alumni@uwosh.edu. Register for the Alumni Awards Celebration here.
Learn more:
- 11 alumni to be honored for their accomplishments at Alumni Awards Celebration
- Study medical laboratory science at UW Oshkosh
- UWO double alumnus, longtime conference director Marc Nylen earns Alumni Outstanding Service Award
- Theresa Connelly earns Distinguished Alumni Award for leadership and nursing excellence
- Jeffery Gerritt earns Distinguished Alumni Award for outstanding career in journalism