Lab Matters Fall 2025 | Page 9

CAREER PATHWAYS

By Hailey Reiss, specialist, Academic Partnerships and Dana Powell Baker, EdD, MBA, MS, CPH, MLS( ASCP) CM, manager, Academic Partnerships

Medical laboratory science( MLS) programs prepare students to work as critical members of the health care team. Preparation for an MLS career involves education and training in various laboratory analysis techniques to provide information that assists with diagnosis, treatment, monitoring and prevention of diseases. 1 Some MLS programs offer students the opportunity to specialize in a public health laboratory science concentration— a valuable way of introducing students to career paths in public health laboratory science.

Through these programs, students obtain an innovative educational experience that prepares them to be successful in a clinical or public health laboratory environment. They receive education and training in advanced diagnostic testing skills and related public health topics, including key public health principles, advocacy and more. Two MLS programs have successfully integrated concentrations focused on public health laboratory science.

Virginia Commonwealth University

Master of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences with a concentration in Public Health Laboratory Sciences

The MLS program at Virginia Commonwealth University is a graduate program intended to prepare students for roles as laboratory supervisors, educators and researchers. In addition to obtaining the core competencies of the MLS program curriculum, students in the public health laboratory sciences concentration will also obtain the fundamentals of infectious epidemiology, learn key molecular techniques and understand the application of quality management systems.

Through this program, students can expand upon their existing education to gain a deeper understanding of medical laboratory science and public health laboratory science. Graduates will be prepared for various careers, including those in public health laboratories. Thus, this program, and others like it, provide an excellent opportunity for students to gain transferable skills for clinical and public health laboratory workforces— versatility that makes these programs unique and valuable.

University of Vermont

Master of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences with a concentration in Public Health Laboratory Science

The MLS program at the University of Vermont is an undergraduate program that seeks to prepare students to work in a clinical or public health laboratory environment. The concentration in public health laboratory science emphasizes microbiology, molecular biology, epidemiology, health status monitoring and disease prevention.

This program prepares students to directly enter the workforce upon graduation; however, interested students may also consider applying to their accelerated master’ s degree program while in their third year. Like the program at Virginia Commonwealth University, this one emphasizes the value of workforce readiness to prepare students for entry-level, and, eventually, leadership positions in public health laboratories. Ideally, through partnerships, students will have the opportunity to engage with professionals in health departments and related organizations before graduation, further preparing them for a career in public health laboratory science.

The Value of Partnerships

Building partnerships with MLS programs with concentrations in public health laboratory science can help to support the next generation of public health laboratory professionals.

“ Partnerships are essential so that students can bridge their academic preparedness with a future career,” said Kate Moreau, clinical associate professor at the University of Vermont.“ We need to continue to bring visibility to laboratories and can do so by creating pathways for students to learn about the multitude of options that exist both at and beyond the bench, such as epidemiology, bioinformatics, disease surveillance, emergency preparedness, quality assurance and management.”

For the best outcomes, these programs benefit from partnerships with public health departments and public health laboratories. Consider seeking out ways to partner with local MLS programs, especially those with a concentration in public health laboratory science. Partnerships today will help create graduates tomorrow who are able to protect the health and safety of their communities. g

Reference The American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science.( 2021). Becoming a clinical laboratory professional- ASCLS. https:// ascls. org / how-do-i-become-a-laboratory-professional /