January 28, 2026
Medical Laboratory Science alum Alex Bladecki advances patient care through blood bank innovation
When Alex Bladecki started at Ferris State, he didn’t expect to find his future in a hospital laboratory. Originally a pre-pharmacy major, everything changed when a professor visited his chemistry class to talk about the Medical Laboratory Science program.
“He mentioned how it’s all lab-based,” Bladecki said. “As an introverted person, that fit me better. I didn’t even know this job existed.”
Today, Bladecki is the lab manager at Henry Ford Jackson Hospital, where he leads teams that perform essential testing for patient care and manages the blood supply for the hospital.
“Every sample taken from a patient comes to the lab,” he said. “We’re the ones who test it and make sure the results are accurate. Doctors depend on what we do to diagnose and treat patients.”
Ferris State’s Medical Laboratory Science degree program offers students real-world experience before graduation. With close faculty connections and hands-on lab work, students learn the technical and critical-thinking skills needed to succeed in healthcare.
“Ferris was cozy,” Bladecki said. “You could always talk to professors, and our class sizes were small. The lab work was my favorite part—I loved getting to do things myself.”
After earning his degree, Bladecki began his career at MidMichigan Health before joining Henry Ford Jackson Hospital. His strong work ethic and mentorship from experienced professionals helped him move to a manager role within just a few years.
“I had great mentors who helped me grow,” he said. “They saw potential in me and pushed me to keep learning.”
In his current role, Bladecki focuses on innovation, process improvement, and patient safety.
“I’m very process-oriented,” he said. “I like figuring out the root cause of issues and finding ways to improve workflows and standards.”
That mindset led Bladecki and his team to reduce the hospital’s misusage and waste of O-negative blood, a crucial and limited resource often in short supply. The project, recognized by the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies, introduced new procedures that improved blood management across the Henry Ford Health system.
“It was really rewarding,” Bladecki said. “We implemented several new processes, and now we’re consistently staying below our target utilization rate.”
The usage rate of O-negative PRBC’s was reduced from an average monthly rate of 13% in 2022 to 7% in 2025. Helping to create more inventory for all hospitals throughout the Midwest during constant blood shortages.
The demand for medical laboratory scientists continues to rise as hospitals across Michigan face retirements and staffing shortages. Graduates with strong technical skills and clinical training are in high demand.
“The pay is competitive now, and hospitals rely laboratory professionals,” he said. “If you like hands-on work, solving problems and helping patients—even behind the scenes—medical lab science is a great fit.”
For Bladecki, the field’s appeal goes beyond job security. For him, it’s about contributing to healthcare in a meaningful way. Even if most patients never meet the professionals behind their results.