MLS program prepares students for work

Today's economy is both a stressful and terrifying time for graduates. With Florida's high unemployment rate, some graduates remain in school longer than necessary rather than face the harsh reality that is today's job market.

However, life after graduation isn't as scary of a thought for all graduates. UCF's Medical Laboratory Science program, offered through the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, provides its graduates with countless job placement opportunities upon graduation.

"So few people know about the profession, and there are so few programs across the country," said Dorilyn Hitchcock, director of the Medical Laboratory Science program. "The UCF program is one of only two university-based MLS programs in Florida. With the majority of individuals working in hospital labs being ‘baby boomers' and so few students graduating, the rate of retirement is higher than the new grads to fill positions."

The program's purpose is to prepare students to become medical laboratory technologists by offering hands-on training in each of the five diagnostic areas: clinical chemistry, hematology, immunohematology, clinical microbiology and immunology.

Graduates of the limited-access program end up landing jobs in hospitals, research facilities and medical equipment companies, sometimes even before they've graduated.

Of the 20 students who graduated in 2010, only two did not accept jobs.

"I have one student that went on to UCF's medical school and one that is undecided for a career choice," Hitchcock said.

To qualify for jobs, students in the MLS program need a minimum of a 2.5 GPA and are required to pass a national certification exam.

In 2010, there was a 90-percent pass rate, and in the three preceding years, the exam results showed a 100-percent pass rate.

The undergraduate program has 21 seniors and 26 juniors working in both a classroom and a lab-learning environment.

"It's really cool, because all the classes have labs, so we learn the stuff in the classroom and then we go and do it," said Jennifer Wooley, a junior in the MLS program.

Like other MLS students, Wooley is interested in the medical field but doesn't want to be a doctor.

"The idea of working in a lab sounded more fun, so I started doing the prerequisites and really liked the lab work," she said.

Many graduates consider the lab work and field experience to be invaluable.

In the lab, "we're testing actual specimens and learning what we should be looking for," said John Cunanan, another junior in the program.

Cunanan has relatives who are medical technologists who helped spark his interest.

"I want to help people, that's my main focus," Cunanan said.

The students are able to work toward their degrees without the stress of post-graduate jitters.

"What I'm hearing is that it's a good field to be looking for a job in right now," Wooley said.

Junior Lily Fuentes hopes to graduate with her degree in MLS and move outside of Florida.

"Hopefully, with all of my experience, I'll be able to get a job anywhere," she said. "And that's what I've heard; I've heard it's really easy to get a job once I finish the program."