On June 20, 2026, The Michener Institute of Education at UHN and Nova Scotia Health partnership proudly celebrated the 17 graduates of the inaugural Nova Scotia Medical Laboratory Technologist (MLT) program at a graduation ceremony in Halifax.

“Congratulations to our graduates and everyone involved with training our future health professionals,” says Dr. Michael O’Leary, Principal, The Michener Institute of Education at UHN and Dr. Daniel C. Andreae Chair in Transformational Healthcare Education. “This accomplishment is a testament to what can be achieved when Canada’s institutions work together toward a shared goal of excellence.”

This milestone marks the successful completion of Canada’s first interprovincial Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) program, established through a partnership between the Government of Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Health and Michener.

The innovative three-year program allowed students to receive accredited MLS training while remaining in Nova Scotia, helping to address health workforce shortages and creating a model that can be replicated across Canada to expand access to applied health sciences education.

Sarah deMolitor and Robyn Samson-Anthony shared the valedictorian title for the inaugural cohort, of which all members have successfully secured employment in the field.

“On behalf of Michener’s MLS program, we are incredibly proud and honoured to see all that was accomplished through this collaboration,” says Rosetta Belcastro, Academic Chair, Medical Laboratory Sciences at Michener. “This achievement reflects the dedication, hard work and commitment of the students and Nova Scotia Health instructors to strengthen the health workforce.”

“It was an absolute pleasure to work alongside such a dedicated and talented group of educators,” says Rosetta.

Congratulations once again to the initial graduating class and all those involved with the execution of the Nova Scotia MLT program.

The Halifax graduation ceremony was attended by Dr. Brian Hodges, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at University Health Network (UHN), Michener Principal Dr. Michener O’Leary, Fiona Cherryman, Vice Principal Academics at Michener, Karen Oldfield, Interim CEO of Nova Scotia Health, Nancy MacConnell-Maxner, Senior Director, Interprofessional Practice and Learning at Nova Scotia Health, Dr. Annette Elliot Rose, Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President Clinical Performance and Professional Practice at Nova Scotia Health, Michener’s Academic Chair, MLS, Rosetta Belcastro, and Cindy Cheung, Professor and Program Liaison, Medical Laboratory Sciences at Michener.