Immunohematology Caregiver Has Teaching in Her Blood
When Hilary Klenjoski, Laboratory Education Specialist at Cleveland Clinic, was a little girl growing up in Colorado, animals were her world. “My father and I would hike, fish and were constantly catching creatures. I loved everything about animals and over time, that developed into my love of biology in general,” she says.
But as she got older, she realized that dream jobs in the biology field were hard to come by. “Those jobs working with animals are few and far between,” she says. “And I had kids to feed. So, I started to be more realistic about how I can use biology in a way that I can enjoy it, love it and still make some money.”
From Baldwin Wallace to the Blood Bank
Hilary began pursuing her biology degree, starting at Cuyahoga Community College and later transferring to Baldwin Wallace University. She graduated in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree and soon after was accepted into the Medical Laboratory Science Program (MLS Program) at Cleveland Clinic. She started working part-time in the blood bank and instantly knew this was the place for her.
“I fell in love with the blood bank,” Hilary says. “We have something similar to a pharmacy in our laboratory that provides various blood products. Our transfusion medicine is used in the Emergency Department, the Cancer Center, on different floors and in operating rooms. It feels good to know the work we do directly helps patients, and what they’re getting is safe. We even get to know some of our ‘frequent flyer patients.’”
The MLS Program
In 2022, an instructor in the MLS Program encouraged Hilary to apply for the immunohematology role since the current educator was moving to another position at Cleveland Clinic. Now as the Immunohematology Educator for the program, she’s responsible for both classroom instruction and hands-on lab training.
The MLS Program accepts 16 students at a time and runs for about 50 weeks, beginning each July. In the first semester, students rotate through chemistry and hematology. The second semester, which begins in December, includes more specialized courses like immunohematology, molecular diagnostics, microbiology, phlebotomy and immunology.
Hilary, along with another educator, leads one of the final courses which starts in February and lasts 11 weeks. Once the students finish their classwork, they move to the blood bank to get real-world experience. “I work with them in the lab, guiding them through different testing benches and slowing things down when needed so they can really absorb the cool stuff we’re doing,” she says.
For Hilary, her focus on immunohematology is all about ensuring safe transfusions. “We’re looking at antibodies and red blood cell reactivity. The overarching goal is to provide the safest possible blood products to our patients.”
Appreciation for Her Students
Nothing brings more joy to Hilary than seeing her students interested and engaged. “I love watching them grow and seeing their enthusiasm. Our lab relies heavily on teamwork — collaborating not just with each other, but also with clinical teams, nurses, doctors, and anesthesiologists. Teamwork is my absolute favorite part of the job.”
The Path to Cleveland Clinic
Before going into healthcare, Hilary was working in retail and customer service. “I liked working with people, but it didn’t allow me to make a real impact,” she says. “I didn’t know much about hospitals, but Cleveland Clinic stood out. The MLS Program was highly recommended. So, it kind of felt like a no brainer to say that Cleveland Clinic is the best hospital system I could have chosen.”
What She Loves
Hilary is confident she made the right choice. “So many innovative things are happening here. We’re expanding, building, learning every day,” she says. “Because of the range of our patient population, caregivers are exposed to cases they might never see anywhere else. You’re going to learn more than at most places. You’ll get such an in-depth look at whatever field you choose, you’ll be an expert at it by the time you’re done.”
Staying Put
While other caregivers may change their roles and consider trying something new, Hilary feels she’s already found her dream job. “I’m in the position that I would want to be in in five years — and even at retirement. This is the perfect balance of teaching students and working in the lab. I love it.”
Even her 10-year-old daughter Lina can see how much her mom loves her job. “She made a joke one day. She said, ‘Mom, you know what? When you’re done working at the blood back, I’m just going to take over your job.’”
When Hilary Klenjoski, Laboratory Education Specialist at Cleveland Clinic, was a little girl growing up in Colorado, animals were her world. “My father and I would hike, fish and were constantly catching creatures. I loved everything about animals and over time, that developed into my love of biology in general,” she says.
But as she got older, she realized that dream jobs in the biology field were hard to come by. “Those jobs working with animals are few and far between,” she says. “And I had kids to feed. So, I started to be more realistic about how I can use biology in a way that I can enjoy it, love it and still make some money.”
From Baldwin Wallace to the Blood Bank
Hilary began pursuing her biology degree, starting at Cuyahoga Community College and later transferring to Baldwin Wallace University. She graduated in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree and soon after was accepted into the Medical Laboratory Science Program (MLS Program) at Cleveland Clinic. She started working part-time in the blood bank and instantly knew this was the place for her.
“I fell in love with the blood bank,” Hilary says. “We have something similar to a pharmacy in our laboratory that provides various blood products. Our transfusion medicine is used in the Emergency Department, the Cancer Center, on different floors and in operating rooms. It feels good to know the work we do directly helps patients, and what they’re getting is safe. We even get to know some of our ‘frequent flyer patients.’”
The MLS Program
In 2022, an instructor in the MLS Program encouraged Hilary to apply for the immunohematology role since the current educator was moving to another position at Cleveland Clinic. Now as the Immunohematology Educator for the program, she’s responsible for both classroom instruction and hands-on lab training.
The MLS Program accepts 16 students at a time and runs for about 50 weeks, beginning each July. In the first semester, students rotate through chemistry and hematology. The second semester, which begins in December, includes more specialized courses like immunohematology, molecular diagnostics, microbiology, phlebotomy and immunology.
Hilary, along with another educator, leads one of the final courses which starts in February and lasts 11 weeks. Once the students finish their classwork, they move to the blood bank to get real-world experience. “I work with them in the lab, guiding them through different testing benches and slowing things down when needed so they can really absorb the cool stuff we’re doing,” she says.
For Hilary, her focus on immunohematology is all about ensuring safe transfusions. “We’re looking at antibodies and red blood cell reactivity. The overarching goal is to provide the safest possible blood products to our patients.”
Appreciation for Her Students
Nothing brings more joy to Hilary than seeing her students interested and engaged. “I love watching them grow and seeing their enthusiasm. Our lab relies heavily on teamwork — collaborating not just with each other, but also with clinical teams, nurses, doctors, and anesthesiologists. Teamwork is my absolute favorite part of the job.”
The Path to Cleveland Clinic
Before going into healthcare, Hilary was working in retail and customer service. “I liked working with people, but it didn’t allow me to make a real impact,” she says. “I didn’t know much about hospitals, but Cleveland Clinic stood out. The MLS Program was highly recommended. So, it kind of felt like a no brainer to say that Cleveland Clinic is the best hospital system I could have chosen.”
What She Loves
Hilary is confident she made the right choice. “So many innovative things are happening here. We’re expanding, building, learning every day,” she says. “Because of the range of our patient population, caregivers are exposed to cases they might never see anywhere else. You’re going to learn more than at most places. You’ll get such an in-depth look at whatever field you choose, you’ll be an expert at it by the time you’re done.”
Staying Put
While other caregivers may change their roles and consider trying something new, Hilary feels she’s already found her dream job. “I’m in the position that I would want to be in in five years — and even at retirement. This is the perfect balance of teaching students and working in the lab. I love it.”
Even her 10-year-old daughter Lina can see how much her mom loves her job. “She made a joke one day. She said, ‘Mom, you know what? When you’re done working at the blood back, I’m just going to take over your job.’”
