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Celebrating Ellen Bassett MT(ASCP) as she retires from Microbiology

By Lynn McCain | June 15

After 36 years of dedicated service, Ellen Bassett, MT(ASCP), a respected medical technologist specialist, will retire on June 19, closing a remarkable chapter in the Michigan Medicine Microbiology Laboratory.

Bassett’s path into medical technology began long before her professional career. Born and raised in Detroit, she grew up as one of six children in a family devoted to public service. Her father served as a Detroit firefighter and later fire chief, while her mother, after working as an FBI secretary, found herself employed at the blood bank at Sinai Hospital. It was there, watching the behind-the-scenes work of laboratory professionals, that Ellen was first introduced to medical technology, igniting a spark of curiosity that would shape her future.

Ellen Bassett as a new U-M Pathology memberShe went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in medical technology from Wayne State University, completed her internship at Hutzel Hospital, then worked at Sinai Hospital and later in a tissue typing laboratory at Wayne State. In 1990, Ellen joined the University of Michigan, beginning a career that would span decades of technological change and scientific discovery.

Bassett started as a medical technologist, trained by longtime mentor Carol Young, and quickly became known for her versatility and dedication. Over the years, she worked in numerous areas of the lab, including patient microbiology, enzyme immunoassay, molecular, susceptibilities, and ultimately media receiving and preparation. In 2003, she became senior technologist for media receiving, overseeing both the preparation and distribution of culture media at a time when much of it was still made in-house.

“We really were like cooks,” she joked, recalling the days of mixing agar, heating vats of media, and pouring plates by hand. “I liked that work. I like cooking.”

Microbiology from the early 1990s - Ellen is 3rd from the left in the 2nd to last row.As technology evolved, so did the lab. Manual processes gave way to automation, hand-read cultures to digital imaging, and susceptibility testing to sophisticated instruments. Ellen embraced those changes, later stepping into her current role as a medical technologist specialist in 2022, while continuing to handle media receiving and working extensively on the Kiestra bench. In this new role, she credits Peggy Mahlmeister and Tina Bard with helping her find a good work-life balance. Even as processes modernized, Ellen remained deeply engaged with the heart of the work, reading cultures, identifying organisms, and contributing critical information that helps physicians choose the best treatments for patients.

When asked what brought her the most joy professionally, Ellen spoke with enthusiasm about the tangible aspects of the job. Media receiving kept her moving, while microbiology appealed to her artistic side, the colors, patterns, and personalities of the organisms themselves. She also cherished the intellectual satisfaction of problem-solving and the sense that her work truly mattered.

Just as important to Bassett was the sense of community she found in the microbiology lab. She credits mentors like Carol Young and Rosemary Hankerd not only for their leadership but for fostering a collaborative, supportive environment she hadn’t experienced elsewhere. She and other members of the team would go on vacations together, such as an unforgettable whitewater rafting trip on West Virginia’s New River, which strengthened bonds and created memories she still treasures.

Ellen with her Microbiology colleagues in 2024.Looking back, Bassett describes her career at Michigan as something more than coincidence. “There were a lot of people I felt destined to meet when I came here,” she reflected. “This job felt like a fate type of thing.” That sense of connection and belonging shaped her experience and left a lasting impression.

Outside the lab, Bassett’s interests span wellness and mindfulness. Over the years, she practiced karate, tai chi, meditation, Reiki, and massage therapy, and even explored drug development before deciding her heart remained in the lab. Those interests continue to guide her as she looks toward retirement.

In the next chapter, Bassett is looking forward to slower mornings, more exercise, yoga, travel, especially visits to her sisters in Northern California, and long walks with her dog, Zoe, a Shih Tzu–miniature poodle mix. She’s also eager to explore social activities and community programs, already signing up at a local senior center.

As Ellen Bassett prepares to step away from daily lab life, she leaves behind a legacy of professionalism, curiosity, and quiet dedication. Her work has touched countless colleagues and patients over the years, and her presence will be deeply missed.

Thank you for your decades of service; we wish you joy, health, and many new adventures in retirement.

 

 
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