Grace Schoech Berry, MHA, BS, MLS(ASCP)
Grace Schoech Berry, MHA, BS, MLS(ASCP), is a dedicated healthcare leader and Laboratory Manager at Munson Healthcare in Petoskey, Michigan, with nearly two decades of experience in clinical laboratory science. Beginning her career as a Medical Laboratory Scientist, she has spent 19 years performing complex diagnostic testing on blood, urine, and other specimens to support accurate patient diagnoses. Over time, her passion for both science and leadership led her to advance into supervisory and management roles, where she now oversees laboratory operations, team performance, and regulatory compliance.
Throughout her career, Grace has built a strong reputation for maintaining high standards in laboratory quality and safety, successfully guiding her teams through inspections from organizations such as The Joint Commission and the College of American Pathologists. Her expertise spans laboratory instrumentation, analytical methods, and process optimization, with a focus on continuous improvement and collaboration. Known for her transformational and coaching leadership style, she prioritizes empowering her team, fostering accountability, and creating a culture centered on excellence and patient care.
Grace’s professional journey reflects both adaptability and a commitment to growth. Originally inspired by an interest in forensic science, she pursued extensive education in biology, criminal justice, and clinical laboratory science before ultimately finding her calling in hospital-based laboratory work. She recently earned her Master of Health Administration to further strengthen her leadership capabilities and broaden her impact within healthcare. Deeply connected to her community, she values the relationships built through her work and remains committed to advancing both her team and the quality of care delivered to patients.
• Medical Laboratory Scientist (ASCP-MLS)
• University of Phoenix- Master's
• University of Cincinnati- B.S. x 3
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
When you don't know the answer to something, it's okay to say you don't know. One of my veteran coworkers told me early in my career that I don't have to know everything. She said I could put someone on hold or ask for their number and call them back after researching the answer. Coming out of college, there's so much pressure to know everything, and you feel like if you don't know something right away, it's terrible. But she taught me that it's perfectly fine to say 'That's an excellent question, let me research and I will find an answer and get back to you.' You don't need to know the answer right then, and you don't have to pretend you do just to look good.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say that if you want to go into the medical field, you don't have to be funneled into nursing just because that's the expectation. Nursing is very admirable, but not everybody has the desire to do all the things that nurses do, and I'm so glad they do, but it's not for everybody. There's this stigma where if you say you don't want to be a nurse, people react like that's strange. But it's okay to say that. You don't have to be funneled into these stereotypical career paths. If you like math and science, if you like STEM fields, it's okay to stand up and say 'No, I really like this, and I don't want to be a nurse' or pursue some of the more stereotypical patient care roles. Unless it's something you really want to do, it's okay to say no and try other things. You can still have a meaningful career in healthcare without being a nurse.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is that this is a hidden field. Not a lot of people realize this field even exists and how necessary it is for assisting providers with diagnosis. Every time someone gets their blood drawn or leaves a urine specimen, that gets tested, and it's not robots that do it. There are people who do it, people who look at the results and realize if the results are good or need further testing. It's still very much a hands-on field even with all our instrumentation. A lot of people going into science, especially women, think hospital equals nursing, and if they don't want to be a nurse, they're not really sure what else they can do. For those of us that love science, unless you know about the field, it's kind of hidden. The opportunities to grow within this field are also harder because we tend to not move out of the field too often. People stay in their positions for so long, so opportunities to move up are more difficult. If you want to accelerate your career, you have to be willing to physically move in the country or move laterally within the hospital. The opportunities are slimmer, which is definitely a challenge for this field.