A Recruitment Program in Clinical Laboratory Science for High School Scholars

Clinical Laboratory Science, Summer 2004 by Skrinska, Victor A, Jeff, Linda R

Due to high vacancy rates in medical technology, the quality of medical care may decline unless the number of students entering academic programs increases. Most programs operate below capacity which has forced many programs to close. To increase enrollment, the Clinical Laboratory Science (CLS) Program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham was one of twelve programs participating in a High School Scholars Program. A total of 40 students from Birmingham area high schools attended over the past two years. Students were accepted based on GPA, letters of reference, and interviews. The two-week summer program included three-hour morning and afternoon sessions. Each session included a presentation focused on a specific topic followed by a laboratory exercise. Students asked many questions and requested further information concerning careers in CLS. Surveys showed that 81% of students listed CLS as one of the careers they learned most about and 75% listed an area in CLS as most interesting. Of students surveyed, 50% listed CLS as one of the careers they were most interested in after the program. Outcomes will continue to be measured over five years to determine the effect of the program on choice of career track.

Victor A Skrinska PhD DABCC, Linda R Jeff MA MT(ASCP), University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham AL.