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PENDLETON —- Deborah Brock, medical laboratory technology instructor and faculty liaison for professional development at Tri-County Technical College, was honored May 10 with the highest award presented to the faculty. She received the Presidential Medallion for Instructional Excellence at the College’s spring commencement.

Dr. Ronnie L. Booth, president, presented the medallion to the Anderson resident. The medallion is presented each year to the instructor who has contributed the most during the academic year to the profession of teaching, to the development of the College and to the students.

Brock joined the College in 2006 as an instructor for the Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) department. She also serves as the faculty advisor to the student chapter of the Future Laboratory Professionals Organization and is a regular presenter at state and national conferences focusing on topics that promote student success in the field of medical laboratory technology.

“I see first hand Deborah’s dedication to our students, her profession and to this College,” said MLT Program Coordinator Polly Kay, who nominated her colleague for the award. “I admire the energy of her efforts and the passion that is so clearly demonstrated in her desire to help the students to be successful. I value the experience and insightful ideas that she brings to Tri-County.”

Since 2008 MLT graduates have earned their national credentials by scoring a 100 percent pass rate on the National Certification Exam administered by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP). “This is due greatly to Deborah’s relentless efforts to ensure that all of the MLT graduates are armed with essential information to pass the exam and possess the skills needed to make a valuable, competent laboratory professional,” said Kay. “In fact, the clinical teachers at the facilities where our students are trained often praise Deborah’s abilities to exceptionally prepare the students for their clinical rotations,” she added.

Kay says that Brock routinely makes herself available to students and is respected by the College community.

“She often stays after lab hours to guide students who are finishing lab activities and remains after class to clarify points and answer questions. She sets aside blocks of time for consultations when she is teaching a topic where students typically need extra attention,” said Kay.

“Deborah continually serves in roles that prove her dedication to achieving College goals and promoting the College philosophy,” said Kay.

Brock continues her professional development by attending the Clinical Laboratory Educators conference annually. She also attends the Carolinas Clinical Connection each year and is often a presenter at both conferences.

In 2009 she was elected president of the SC Society of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and represented the state at the national and regional levels. She also served as Area I Director and Student Forum Chair for the organization. She recently received the regional Omicron Sigma Award for Outstanding Service in the medical lab field. She attended the South Carolina Plugged In Online Teaching with Technology conference in Columbia this year and presented “Let the Games Begin: Competing for Attention in Your Classroom.” She also attended and presented this topic at the League for Innovation in Community Colleges in Dallas this year.

She attended the Learning College Summit for three years as part of the Tri-County team. She also works on developing and promoting service learning opportunities at Tri-County.

In her role as faculty liaison for professional development, Brock is instrumental in coordinating faculty development at Tri-County. She manages professional development opportunities and coordinates workshops for faculty and staff. Last fall she worked with the College’s human resources department to coordinate a professional development day for all employees.

On campus she coordinates of the South Carolina Medical Laboratory Technology Student Bowl, a state-wide competition between MLT students and serves as advisor of the Future Laboratory Professionals Organization. She is a site visitor for the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences, the accrediting body for MLT programs. She also authored the most recent MLT self study, an extensive document required for the reaccreditation process, which resulted in full reaffirmation with no deficiencies.

She is an Area III Director of the South Carolina State Society for Clinical Laboratory Science, an associate member of the American Society of Clinical Pathologist, and a member of the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science.

Her publications have appeared in Advance and the ASCLS newsletter, Clinical Laboratory Science and Laboratory Medicine. She also has written and illustrated a children’s book titled The Adventures of the Lab Explorers: Sometimes When You Feel Bad (2005).

She and her husband, Greg, live in Anderson.

Prior to joining Tri-County, Brock spent 13 years serving as program coordinator for the Medical Laboratory Technology department at Trident Technical College. She joined Trident as an instructor in 1991. She began her career working as a medical technologist at a Texas hospital and later as a lab manager at doctors’ offices.

She holds B.S. and B.A. degrees in chemistry from Texas Woman’s University, a Medical Technologist certificate from Baptist Medical Center in San Antonio, and a master of Health Sciences degree — Advanced Generalist in Medical Technology — from the Medical University of South Carolina.