During the final semester of the University of Minnesota’s MLS program, each student completes four three-week rotations in each of the major areas of Medical Laboratory Sciences, including:
- Hematology/ Hemostasis
- Chemistry/ Urinalysis
- Transfusion Medicine
- Microbiology
During this clinical experience, students are assigned to at least two different clinical sites or systems to gain experience in both rural and urban settings, and to experience how different laboratories operate based on their patient population, location, and services offered. Additionally, students are enrolled in the program’s Laboratory Management course to help them gain a deeper understanding of laboratory operations.
The clinical experience semester is vital to our students’ success in the field of medical laboratory sciences because it connects classroom theory and learning to the clinical laboratory, which bridges the gap from being a student to becoming a professional.
The hands on experience students will receive in a variety of clinical laboratory settings this semester exposes them to areas that are not reproducible within the classroom and laboratory, such as prioritizing, workflow, instrumentation, and collaborating with others both inside and outside of the clinical laboratory.
Clinical Education Affiliates
The MLS Program is tremendously grateful to our many clinical education affiliates. Each of these institutions provides an essential piece of the degree program for our students: direct education experience in laboratory practice. This component of their education allows students to apply what they have learned on campus to a real world environment and prepares them for the workplace in the near future.
See a full list of our Clinical Affiliate sites
How to Become a Clinical Affiliate
Clinical Affiliates play a vital role in supporting and furthering the profession of medical laboratory sciences. There are many benefits clinical affiliates experience when they accept MLS students including staff development, potential new hire, and training the next generation of medical laboratory scientists. If you are interested in learning more about what it means to become a clinical affiliate, please contact Diane Hutchinson (Clinical Education Director) via email at abel0030@umn.edu or telephone (612) 625-8334.
