Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Demetra "Toula" Castillo (Online Medical Laboratory Science)

Dr. Castillo’s passion for medical laboratory science (MLS) has motivated her throughout her entire career.

“I enjoyed solving puzzles and figuring out problems,” she said. “Combine that with my love of biology, and medical laboratory science was the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.”  

Through the years, her passion has helped her pursue excellence as a lab scientist and associate professor of online Medical Laboratory Science at the University of Cincinnati. After years of advocacy, she’s achieved another milestone in her career: being named President-Elect of the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS). 

We recently spoke with Dr. Castillo about this honor and how it will inform her work at UC. 

“What first attracted me to medical laboratory science was my love of science and people,” Dr. Castillo said. 

Some may struggle to see the connection; after all, aren’t lab scientists sequestered away from patients and other practitioners all day? But this couldn't be further from the truth. Even if MLS professionals aren’t directly interacting with patients, they frequently collaborate with other lab professionals and cross-functional care teams.  

“You’re trained to think about how the body works, so you can apply that information when things go wrong,” she said. In the MLS field, interpersonal communication and science go hand-in-hand. Anyone familiar with Dr. Castillo’s work can see why she thrives there.

Strong people skills are necessary both in and out of the laboratory, especially when you have a vested interest in the field as a whole.  

Through her involvement in ASCLS, Dr. Castillo has dedicated herself to “Labvocacy”—advocating for professional recognition, leadership development, increased visibility, and other issues facing the MLS field. She's seen “significant momentum as laboratory professionals have become stronger advocates for themselves and the vital contributions they make to the healthcare team.”

However, she's best able to channel her passion and experience into teaching. Alongside her advocacy, Dr. Castillo’s role as a professor allows her to shape the future of MLS through its newest practitioners.  

For Dr. Castillo, her students’ enthusiasm and persistence are what sustain her dedication to the field. Even so, she initially had some reservations about teaching online.

“I thought I would never be able to capture the same energy and connection of a face-to-face classroom," she said, “but I was mistaken. I discovered that, by intentionally creating opportunities for engagement, reflection, and collaboration, the sense of community became even stronger with every online meeting.” 

It's a perspective that’s been echoed across the board by other online UC students. While online learners sometimes struggle to connect with their peers and professors, just as many benefit from the increased support and intentionality found in online programs. 

Instructors like Dr. Castillo are key to success, ensuring that online students stay connected and reach out when they need help. 

“Meaningful relationships aren’t defined by proximity,” she said. “They’re built through trust, shared purpose, and investing in others.”

Being an online instructor means that many of Dr. Castillo’s MLS students are adult or nontraditional students, with many of them balancing school alongside their careers and families. This can present unique challenges as an instructor, but it also provides unexpected advantages for MLS students. 

“I try to meet them where they are while maintaining high expectations,” Dr. Castillo said. “I believe rigor and support are not mutually exclusive.” 

This flies in the face of a common misconception: that online degree programs are easier or less rigorous than their on-campus equivalents. In actuality, online learning eliminates barriers to learning—like a full-time work schedule or long commute to campus—and encourages greater engagement with coursework. 

And for online learners who already work full-time in a medical laboratory, they can immediately apply what they’re learning in class to their career. Through assignments, readings, and feedback, Dr. Castillo helps her students make connections between school and professional practice. 

“When students feel supported, challenged, and valued, they’re capable of accomplishing far more than they often believe they can. I’ve had the privilege of watching students grow into confident laboratory professionals and leaders."

The world of MLS offers more than one path for future practitioners. According to Dr. Castillo, students should focus on developing different skills based on their goals, experiences, and professional identities. 

While there isn’t a singular skillset applicable to every laboratory setting, Dr. Castillo sees education as key to carving a path forward in the field. UC offers several online degree options in medical laboratory science, including: 

• Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science
• Master of Science in Medical Laboratory Science Leadership
• Doctorate of Clinical Laboratory Science

Each of these programs has a distinct professional focus and is geared toward students at different stages in their careers, but the common goal is “preparing students to make meaningful contributions to patient care,” Dr. Castillo said.  

The BS in Medical Laboratory Science degree is ideal for students who have already earned a clinical laboratory technician or medical laboratory technician associate degree. Building upon a strong scientific and technical foundation, students sharpen the critical thinking and decision-making skills they’ll need as an MLS.

As for the doctoral program, Dr. Castillo emphasized how the coursework provides ample opportunities for real-world application. In particular, the DCLS program builds upon prior MLS education and clinical practice. It prepares “experienced professionals to become consultants, educators, researchers, and leaders who can address complex healthcare challenges and help shape the future of laboratory medicine.” 

Regardless of what degree program a student chooses, Dr. Castillo believes in the value of pursuing a future in MLS. She plays a vital role in that future—both in her own advocacy and in shaping the next generation of MLS leaders.

"We’re at an exciting point in the profession,” she said. “Advances in technology, artificial intelligence, precision medicine, and data analytics are changing the way laboratory professionals contribute to healthcare. At the same time, we continue to face challenges related to workforce shortages and recognition. At the heart of this lies uncertainty, but we can turn this uncertainty into opportunities to innovate, to develop new leaders, and to expand the role of laboratory professionals as essential members of the healthcare team.  

As MLS professionals advocate for their value in the healthcare industry, we’ll continue to see how education opens doors for those in the field. Dr. Castillo is excited to witness those changes in the laboratory and classroom alike.

Although advocacy has always been a cornerstone of Dr. Castillo’s career, she never anticipated that it would lead to being named president-elect of ASCLS.  

“It is not a responsibility I take lightly,” she said. “I see it as an opportunity to serve and collaborate with other laboratory leaders to ensure our profession continues to thrive. As an educator and as ASCLS President-Elect, I hope to continue creating opportunities for others to learn, lead, and make a lasting impact on patient care and on the profession we all care so deeply about.”

This election was the first in ASCLS history that was open to all members—a fact that made the experience even more surreal, Dr. Castillo added. She’s served in ASCLS on both the state and national level since 2021, but assuming the presidency marks a new chapter of her involvement.  

What excites her most? The opportunity to see others in the field realize their potential.

“I find great fulfillment in helping others grow,” she said.  

Her approach to leadership is holistic in nature and informed by years of clinical practice and teaching. For Dr. Castillo, leadership isn’t defined by a title but through a dedication to mentorship and service.  

“I hope to bring that same philosophy to ASCLS by creating opportunities for others to grow, contribute, and discover their own leadership potential. The future of laboratory science is incredibly bright because of the people in it.” 

Dr. Castillo plays a crucial role in MLS education at the University of Cincinnati Online, and we’re grateful for the words of wisdom she’s shared.

If you’re ready to embark on a career in medical laboratory science, then UC’s online degree programs may be the perfect fit for your goals. Whether you’re pursuing your bachelor’s degree or returning for your master’s or doctorate, UC is here to support you as an online learner. 

You don’t have to have it all figured out immediately. Start with a quick conversation—our Enrollment Services Advisors are here to offer personalized guidance based on your goals. 

The future of MLS is bright, and so is yours.