Profiles in Success

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I wouldn't be where I am today, teaching, without SUNY Upstate's clinical microbiology lab and all I've learned here.

Josephine (Josie) Przepiora, MT(ASCP)SM

Lakeland, NY
Class of 1999
Medical Technology - BS Degree

Love of Science and Learning Spurs Microbiology Educator

"I've always loved science," comments Josie Przepiora, who has been a medical technologist for 30 years. Today, a clinical laboratory science instructor for the College of Health Professions, she imparts her passion for microbiology to others because of her "perpetual love of learning."

"I love to attend conferences, lab in-services, and to stay current with the topical literature." In fact, Przepiora also is working to develop a lab assay to identify fungi through DNA sequencing for her master's thesis. She plans to obtain her MS degree in medical technology, specializing in microbiology, from the College in 2010. In 2006, she co-authored and
presented a poster on "Rapid reporting from positive blood cultures," at the American Society of Microbiology's annual meeting.

Prior to joining Upstate, Przepiora worked 18 years for the Onondaga County Health Department. Przepiora became interested in teaching in 1991 when she joined the microbiology laboratory at Upstate's teaching hospital. "While on the bench, I also instructed medical students in phlebotomy and pathology residents in microbiology during their clinical rotations." Now a full-time faculty member, she co-teaches the medical microbiology course, assisting an annual class of 20 or more students in developing their laboratory skills, working with them hands-on. She also works with master's degree med-tech students in the hospital's microbiology lab, providing supervision, guidance and scrutiny on actual lab cases – conducting bacterial cultures and susceptibility studies, and identifying all pathogens.

"Technology in the field is proceeding on a fast track," noted Przepiora, "growing exponentially. Through the 1990s biochemical methods were used to identify organisms; today, many molecular methods are replacing these conventional methods."

In addition to her faculty and part-time student responsibilities, Przepiora also volunteers her time to serve on the Health Professions Alumni Association Board of Directors. "I applaud its goal of supporting students. Most students have fi nancial need. I myself have benefited from a scholarship while earning my bachelor's degree, and I greatly appreciated it."

"I wouldn't be where I am today, teaching, without SUNY Upstate's clinical microbiology lab and all I've learned here. The facility and faculty are on top of ongoing new developments in the fi eld. We are always looking for the best and most current technology and connecting it to the laboratory and classroom."