Michael Blute, Instructor and State DRE Coordinator with the Georgia Public Safety Training Center, presents Dr. Phyllis Ingham, Dean of the School of Health Sciences at West Georgia Technical College, with an award recognizing her contributions to Georgia’s Law Enforcement Phlebotomy Program.
Dr. Phyllis Ingham, Dean of the School of Health Sciences at West Georgia Technical College (WGTC), has been recognized for her outstanding contributions to Georgia’s Law Enforcement Phlebotomy Program, a collaborative initiative that continues to make a significant impact on public safety across the state.
Since the program’s launch in October 2021, Dr. Ingham has led phlebotomy training for law enforcement officers through the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in collaboration with the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. The program recently celebrated its 25th graduating class.
“To be recognized for this work is truly meaningful,” said Dr. Ingham. “This program is built on strong partnerships and a shared commitment to public safety. It is an honor to support law enforcement officers across Georgia and help equip them with the skills needed to serve their communities safely and effectively.”
To date, 400 law enforcement professionals—including deputies, police officers, state troopers, dispatchers, crime scene technicians, and jail personnel—have completed the program. Collectively, they have performed more than 9,000 successful venipuncture procedures with a 90% first-stick success rate.
Participants complete 10 hours of online instruction and 32 hours of hands-on training, covering phlebotomy techniques, anatomy, legal and ethical considerations, and field-based procedures. Graduates earn qualifications equivalent to those of phlebotomists working in hospitals and other licensed medical facilities across Georgia.
Dr. Ingham has personally instructed all 25 cohorts, in addition to leading numerous re-certification trainings and competency evaluations. Her dedication and expertise have been instrumental in the program’s success.
Participant feedback consistently highlights Dr. Ingham as a patient, caring, and dynamic instructor who goes above and beyond to ensure student success.
“Dr. Ingham’s dedication to Georgia’s Law Enforcement Phlebotomy Program has been an integral piece to making this program as successful as it is,” said Michael Blute, Instructor and State DRE Coordinator with the Georgia Public Safety Training Center. “She pours her heart into the officers, and that is translated to the roadways where these officers are preventing serious injury and fatality collisions from happening. She is the soul of the program, in my opinion.”
The program’s growth speaks to the value of strong partnerships and hands-on training. WGTC is proud to continue supporting law enforcement professionals across Georgia with the skills they need to do their jobs safely and confidently.
