MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCES
Karen A. Reiner, PhD, MT(ASCP), MSCLS ’99
Chair, Associate Professor, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences
Donations to the support the department of Medical Laboratory Sciences are welcome. http://www.andrews.edu/GO/GIVE/MLS
References: [1] https://www.cdc.gov/csels/dls/strengtheningclinical-labs.html [2] The Lewin Group. (2008). Laboratory Medicine: A National Status Report 2008. https://www.cdc.gov/ csels/dls/strengthening-clinical-labs.html [3] Hannah Ritchie, Edouard Mathieu, Lucas RodésGuirao, Cameron Appel, Charlie Giattino, Esteban Ortiz-Ospina, Joe Hasell, Bobbie Macdonald, Diana Beltekian and Max Roser (2020) - “Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19)”. Published online at OurWorldInData.org. Retrieved from: https:// ourworldindata.org/coronavirus [Online Resource] [4] https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/clinicallaboratory-technologists-and-technicians.htm
28 / The Pulse 2022
I often reminisce on my college experience and think: So glad I made that choice!!! The choice to become a medical laboratory scientist! It is not uncommon to be asked what led me to become a medical laboratory scientist. I love answering this question because it gives me an opportunity to give tribute to the influencers in my life and to reflect on my influence on others. While my parents have always supported me in my educational pursuits, I attribute my decision to become a medical laboratory scientist to a special aunt. While visiting her during a summer vacation, she asked if I would like to visit her workplace. My aunt, now retired, was a cytologist. Her lab was near the morgue of the hospital she worked at, and I, inclined to medical things since a young age, was very intrigued by this. I agreed to accompany her, and after an afternoon of show-and-tell, I was hooked. I wanted to work in a lab just like her. After some research, I discovered that medical technology (former name for medical laboratory science) was the profession that would put me in a laboratory, and while different than cytology, it would offer me a wide range of scientific expertise that seemed like a good fit. So, when it was time to choose a major in college, I chose medical technology. When I told my family and friends about my choice, some asked me, “What do medical technologists do? Do they fix machines?” Well, sometimes we do have to troubleshoot laboratory equipment, so in that sense we do fix machines, but we do way more than that! We are responsible for the nearly 14 billion laboratory tests performed annually in more than 200,000 Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA)certified laboratories [2]. We provide laboratory data for 70 percent of medical decisions made every day [1]. Medical laboratory scientists must possess an extensive theoretical knowledge base which couples scientific knowledge from stem disciplines, such as biology and chemistry, with sophisticated instruments and technology to perform and interpret laboratory testing on blood and body fluids. Laboratory testing encompasses disciplines such as clinical chemistry, hematology, immunology, immunohematology/transfusion medicine, microbiology and molecular biology. We are the ones responsible for generating accurate laboratory data needed in the detection of cancer, heart attacks, diabetes, infectious mononucleosis, identification of infectious agents such as bacteria, parasites or viruses, and detecting drugs of abuse [3]. The pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 helped to highlight medical laboratory scientists and further underscore their vital role as part of the healthcare team. Medical laboratory scientists continue to be in high demand—it’s a career that’s projected to grow 11 percent through 2030, much higher than the average for all occupations [4]. There are approximately 25,900 job openings for MLS professionals anticipated in the coming year. In recognizing the needs in laboratory medicine and the anticipated continual growth potential for MLS positions, the Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences in the College of Health & Human Services at Andrews University is proud to announce the addition of a new program and four certificates beginning Fall 2022. The online MLT to BSMLS program offers certified medical laboratory technicians (MLTs) the opportunity to enhance their credentials, opening the door for promotion in various areas of the clinical laboratory. We are also excited to offer an in-person MLS certificate and three online technologist certificates: Technologist in Chemistry Certificate (https://www.andrews. edu/distance/degrees/undergrad/techchemistry.html), Technologist in Hematology Certificate (https://www.andrews.edu/distance/degrees/undergrad/techhematology. html), and Technologist in Microbiology Certificate (https://www.andrews.edu/distance/ degrees/undergrad/techmicrobiology.html). Finally, it is with great pleasure that we introduce to the MLS profession the MLS class of 2022! (See class picture, p. 31.) In just a few weeks these dedicated and committed Andrews University graduates will join the workforce and become World Changers! Not only I am proud to be a medical laboratory scientist; I am blessed and honored to be a part of the education and training of future MLS and healthcare professionals. So glad I made that choice!!! For more information on the MLT-BSMLS program: https://www.andrews.edu/ distance/degrees/undergrad/bsmls.html.
