Leading from the Lab

When Nickolas Caster ’18 transferred from Monroe Community College to join SUNY Brockport’s medical technology program, he wasn’t aware he would end up playing a pivotal role in the program training current students as the Rochester General Hospital’s (RGH) Program Coordinator.

“Teaching students going through the same program I completed was incredibly rewarding,” Caster said. “It sparked a passion for education.”

While transferring to SUNY Brockport and joining a rigorous program was initially a challenge, Caster soon realized he had made the right choice to transfer.

“While I had great professors at MCC, the atmosphere at Brockport was uniquely welcoming and challenged me to elevate my game,” Caster said. “Once I took Microbiology, I realized this was the path I was meant to follow.”

For Caster, the Medical Technology program was the perfect balance between his scientific interests and career goals. His academic advisor, Michel Pelletier, played a key role in helping him navigate the program and plan for his future.

“Dr. Pelletier took the time to understand my goals and provided valuable guidance—not just in course selection, but in navigating the complexities of the Medical Technology program,” Caster said. “His mentorship was instrumental in helping me stay focused, motivated, and confident.”

The capstone experience of the medical technology program is a yearlong clinical internship experience. Caster landed an internship at Rochester General Hospital (RGH), where he gained hands-on experience in a clinical lab while learning what it was like to work directly in the field.

“The internship at RGH provides real-world, hands-on experience and gives you an inside look at what it’s truly like to work in a clinical lab,” Caster said. “It was one of the most challenging years of my life, but also the most rewarding.”

Before working in the field, medical technology graduates need to gain licensure in New York, which includes passing the ASCP Board of Certification Exam.

“It was the hardest test I’ve ever taken, but I passed on my first attempt,” Caster said. “The program at RGH prepared me exceptionally well for the board exam. When I saw that ‘pass’ flash on my screen, I was overjoyed—knowing I could now begin the next chapter of my life in a career I’m passionate about. There’s no greater feeling.”

For Caster, that next chapter started almost immediately when he accepted a job at his internship site in RGH’s Microbiology Lab. He spent the next five years working in the lab and eventually stepped into a leadership role.

“I was involved in onboarding and validating life-saving technologies and eventually became the Microbiology Education Coordinator,” Caster said.

Caster gained a passion for training and educating new employees, which culminated in his current role as the Program Coordinator for the Medical Laboratory Science Program at RGH where he helps shape the next generation of laboratory professionals.

Sometimes a thankless job, Caster offers a key piece of advice and encouragement to students interested in pursuing a Medical Technology degree.

“You’ll be working behind the scenes to help diagnose and treat patients. It’s a highly impactful job that doesn’t necessarily get the spotlight but makes a huge difference in patient outcomes,” Caster said. “The work is incredibly diverse—you’ll learn different aspects of Chemistry, Microbiology, Transfusion Medicine, Hematology, Immunology, and Anatomic Pathology, just to name a few.”

Serving as the current Program Coordinator, Caster is able to give back to SUNY Brockport by training students that were once in his position.

“Brockport gave me more than just a degree,” Caster said. “It gave me the tools, the support, and the inspiration to build a meaningful career.”