Her Story
About betty
Betty Ciesla is a retired medical laboratory scientist based in Annapolis, Maryland. She taught at the University of Maryland Medical School, Morgan State University, and Stevenson University for more than 20 years, with a focus on hematology and medical terminology, the latter of which she taught for 10 years. Ciesla earned her bachelor's degree from Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science and completed a master's degree at Towson State University while raising three children, a transition encouraged by colleague Barbara Caldwell. She is a member of the American Society of Clinical Pathology and has authored a textbook on hematology published by F.A. Davis. Among her honors are teaching awards from each institution where she taught and an AARP award for her presentation Tell Me What the Doctor Said, which helps older individuals communicate medical concerns. Ciesla previously volunteered for five years at the Bicoda Senior Center in Baltimore and attributes her success to encouraging mentors and seeing her knowledge applied effectively in the field. She advises young women interested in biology or related sciences to pursue their studies deeply, noting that such knowledge benefits both the individual and their loved ones.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with betty
01What do you attribute your success to?
I had people that were encouraging, and that's what it takes. I could see the work. I could see all that I knew working. If it works, then you're in the right field.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
A colleague strongly suggested that I needed to go from bachelor's to master's degree, or else I won't be part of that field or group of faculty members. It was difficult with three babies but took 4 years.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
If you're interested in biology, or maybe if you've had the ability to take a microbiology course or an anatomy course, make it glow. Do more with it. It will help you and it will help everyone you love.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Getting individuals in the field, that's the greatest challenge. We have to get young individuals in the field so they can walk through all those challenges. It's a challenging field. You have to have a degree to even get into medical laboratory science.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
My daughters, I have 3 daughters and 3 grandchildren. My husband who died of a medical disease was incredible after we were together for 40 years. I try if anybody asks me anything medically, I try to explain it to them in a way that they will understand.
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