Heroes in the Medical Laboratory

Transcription

1 Why choose a career in the medical laboratory? Turn your love of science into a fun and rewarding career. Heroes in the Medical Laboratory Enjoy strong job prospects nationwide. Make a great salary while helping people around you. Don t Just Make a Difference. Be the Difference. What are you waiting for? To learn about all of the career paths available to you, look inside! Medical Laboratory Scientist Medical Laboratory Technician Phlebotomist Pathologist Pathologists Assistant Clinical Chemist Histotechnologist Cytotechnologist Technologist in Cytogenetics Technologist in Molecular Biology

2 Where do you see yourself in the future? Living and working in the city of your dreams? Having fun doing something that interests you? Earning an excellent salary while helping people live longer, fuller lives? A medical laboratory career can help you get there! Look inside to find a career that can take you where you want to go. Each page has information on exciting jobs in the medical laboratory, and stories from the real professionals who do them every day. Find out which career is right for you Learn about these jobs in the medical laboratory and what you ll need to get started. Medical Laboratory Scientist Page 3 Shareen Lee, MLS(ASCP) CM Studying patients specimens to help doctors diagnose and treat diseases Medical Laboratory Technician Page 5 Robert Callaham, MLT(ASCP) CM Conducting tests that influence doctors treatment decisions Phlebotomist Page 6 Karen Penrod, PBT(ASCP) CM Working face-to-face with patients to draw blood samples Pathologist Page 7 Alexandra Harrington, MD, FASCP, MT(ASCP) The doctor who diagnoses diseases at the microscopic level Pathologists Assistant Page 9 Cheryl Talbott, MHS, CT(ASCP) CM PA CM Providing the hands-on assistance that pathologists need to help patients Clinical Chemist Page 11 Ross Molinaro, PhD, MT(ASCP) Guiding doctors toward new, better ways to diagnose patients Histotechnologist Page 12 Melissa C. Kemp, HTL(ASCP) CM Preparing tissue samples to help pathologists diagnose diseases Cytotechnologist Page 13 Sean A. McNair, CT(ASCP) CM Examining cells to find cancer and infections today Technologist in Cytogenetics Page 14 Ashley Mariano, CG(ASCP) CM Looking into genes to find the diseases of tomorrow Technologist in Molecular Biology Page 15 Johanna Sloss, MB(ASCP) CM Fast-growing area of laboratory medicine Specialize to Further Your Career Page 16 Resources Page 17 ASCP Board of Certification Page

3 Medical Laboratory Scientist Studying patients specimens to help doctors diagnose and treat diseases The Medical Laboratory Scientist is one of the most important people in medicine. In a single day, a Medical Laboratory Scientist performs some of the most complex tests on blood, tissue, body fluids, and other samples from many patients. This helps provide doctors with most of the information they use to treat infections and diagnose cancers and other diseases. At the same time, they re a vital part of the emergency medical team and can even save lives. Shareen Lee, MLS(ASCP) CM, was working as a Medical Laboratory Scientist in Los Angeles when a young boy was rushed into her hospital s emergency room. He had suffered a gunshot wound and needed a blood transfusion right away. But first, laboratory professionals and doctors needed to get information about his blood, and they were running out of time fast. That s where Shareen came in. She performed tests to find the correct blood type for the boy. It ensured his system could handle the transfusion that helped keep him alive. We issued blood quickly, and his condition stabilized, Shareen says. It played a huge role that day in saving his life. Medical Laboratory Scientists don t have to work in a hospital to save lives. They can also work for reference laboratories, medical offices, and pharmaceutical or biotech companies where they help diagnose and treat infections, anemia, and even cancer. Then they relay that information to doctors, so they can find the best treatment for each patient. In some cases, Medical Laboratory Scientists actually provide treatment information for the physician. For example, they can test bacteria, taken from a patient, with different antibiotics to find out which one works best to treat an infection. If you enjoy science and solving problems, a career as a Medical Laboratory Scientist may be the right choice for you. And because positions are becoming available faster than employers can fill them, Medical Laboratory Science students often have their choice of job offers when they graduate. Once you get started you can become a supervisor, and even specialize in a specific area that interests you (like Hematology, Microbiology, Chemistry, or the Blood Bank). We issued blood quickly, and his condition stabilized. It played a huge role that day in saving his life. Shareen Lee, MLS(ASCP) CM Strong science background Interest in solving puzzles Medical (or Clinical) Laboratory Science program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) Earn certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist from the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP BOC). $54,413; Supervisor: $65,894 1 Photography by Sara Press 3 4

4 Medical Laboratory Technician Conducting tests that influence doctors treatment decisions Phlebotomist Working face-to-face with patients to draw blood samples Interest in science and technology Ability to be careful and organized»associate s» degree Medical Laboratory Technician program accredited by NAACLS Earn certification as a Medical Laboratory Technician from the ASCP BOC. $40,768; Supervisor: $49,338 1 If you love performing experiments in science class, you may want to join the ranks of Medical Laboratory Technicians. Each day, they run the simple, day-to-day tests on blood, tissues, body fluids, and other samples with high-tech equipment in the medical laboratory. Those test results help doctors determine the right treatments for patients and occasionally lead to extraordinary breakthroughs. That s what happened to Robert Callaham, MLT(ASCP) CM, a Medical Laboratory Technician from New Mexico. He once ran a test on a patient who had told his doctor that he was tired. No one could figure out what was wrong, Robert says. Finally, I asked if the patient had traveled outside the United States. He had. A new test was ordered, and it found a rare disease in his blood work. The test I ran helped the doctor diagnose and treat the patient, and restore his health, he says. As with Medical Laboratory Scientists, the job market for Medical Laboratory Technicians continues to grow and there are opportunities to raise your salary and advance in the laboratory by getting certified by the ASCP BOC. Phlebotomists are on the front lines in the medical laboratory the ones who work hands-on with patients to collect blood samples. Other duties performed by Phlebotomists include point-of-care testing, such as glucose testing for diabetic patients or infants. They re also responsible for identifying patients prior to sample collection, and ensuring that each sample is correctly identified for future testing. To become a Phlebotomist, you can often start right after high school. You just need to be able to handle stressful situations, have skilled hands, and love working with people. Just ask Karen Penrod, PBT(ASCP) CM, a Phlebotomist at a hospital in Columbus, Ind. Because of her gentle nature and happy attitude, people ask for her by name when they need to have blood drawn. Some people are nervous about needles, Karen says. So if you re good at talking to people, you can get them to concentrate on you and not the needle going into their arm. Sometimes, you even get the opportunity to save a life. That s what Karen did when she noticed a baby in her hospital had strange-smelling breath a tell-tale sign of diabetes. She reported the smell to the baby s doctor, who helped lower the child s blood sugar just in time. No one could figure out what was wrong. My test helped the doctor diagnose and treat the patient, and restore his health. Robert Callaham, MLT(ASCP) CM I love my job, Karen says. I get the opportunity to meet and help a lot of people. It s an awesome feeling. If you re good at talking to people, you can get them to concentrate on you and not the needle going into their arm. Karen Penrod, PBT(ASCP) CM Precision and accuracy High attention to detail Excellent people skills High school diploma Phlebotomy training or work experience Earn certification as a Phlebotomy Technician or Donor Phlebotomy Technician from the ASCP BOC. $28,080; Supervisor: $41,766 1 Photography by Mark Erickson 5 6 Photography by Polina Osherov

5 Pathologist The doctor who diagnoses diseases at the microscopic level Do you enjoy being a leader? Taking on a high degree of responsibility? How about rising above challenges to solve problems for others? For Pathologists, these qualities come naturally. That s because, when a patient s life hangs in the balance, these laboratory medicine physicians need to know they have what it takes to lead a laboratory team and diagnose diseases in a timely fashion. Alexandra Harrington, MD, FASCP, MT(ASCP), knows this from experience. One day, when reviewing a patient s blood cells under the microscope, she found a rare leukemia cell in the background of many normal cells. The patient was young, healthy, and athletic and only complained of recent tiredness, so the diagnosis was a complete surprise. Any delay in diagnosis can be devastating, even fatal. Fortunately, her leukemia type has an excellent outcome when detected and treated early. Alexandra Harrington, MD, FASCP, MT(ASCP) Had these leukemia cells not been recognized, the patient would not have had an answer for her tiredness, and her leukemia would have spread and caused life-threatening complications. But because of Dr. Harrington s expertise, it took less than a day to begin the chemotherapy that saved her life. Any delay in diagnosis can be devastating, even fatal, she says. Fortunately, her leukemia type has an excellent outcome when detected and treated early. Because early diagnosis can determine whether a person survives, the Pathologist has one of the most important positions in the laboratory and in the entire medical field. These medical doctors are at the center of all other positions in the lab, working with each team member on the patient s behalf. It s hard work, but the rewards are worth it. Strong science background Ability to recognize patterns Excellent leadership skills Four-year medical school program Residency program in Pathology One- or two-year fellowship program in anatomic or clinical pathology or both (optional) $247,013 2 Photography by Corey Hengen 7 8

6 Pathologists Assistant Providing the hands-on assistance that pathologists need to help patients If you like dissecting frogs, you might very well enjoy a career as a Pathologists Assistant. You ll get to work directly with specimens and tissues, and be the eyes that help Pathologists diagnose diseases correctly. This can include everything from helping surgeons in the operating room find cancer in organ tissue to performing autopsies on people who have died. It s an exciting and interesting career for people who enjoy learning more about how the human body works like Cheryl Talbott, MHS, CT(ASCP) CM PA CM. I love the hands-on aspect and variety, Cheryl says. I never know what I ll get that day. Pathologists Assistants work can be the deciding factor in whether a patient lives or dies. Sometimes, a tumor may look benign, but we ll find out it s cancerous, she says. Our work determines what kind of treatment that patient will receive. The career prospects for Pathologists Assistants have grown in recent years, and experts predict even more growth in the future. I love the hands-on aspect and variety. I never know what I ll get that day. High attention to detail Ability to touch and examine human cadavers Cheryl Talbott, MHS, CT(ASCP) CM PA CM Pathologists Assistant program accredited by NAACLS Earn certification as a Pathologists Assistant from the ASCP BOC. $74,922; Supervisor: $77, Photography by Rick Madsen

7 Clinical Chemist Guiding doctors toward new, better ways to diagnose patients Histotechnologist Preparing tissue samples to help pathologists diagnose diseases Clinical Chemists are the scientific detectives of the medical laboratory. Every day, they investigate the procedures that lab professionals use to find errors, because the more smoothly the medical laboratory runs, the better care patients receive. For example, Ross Molinaro, PhD, MT(ASCP), DABCC, FACB, once noticed that a patient s blood test didn t match his doctor s report. It was Ross s job to find out why. Was the blood collected wrong? Or maybe labeled incorrectly? Did the patient eat something he wasn t supposed to before the test? By discovering the reason behind testing flaws like these, he helps make sure the same mistakes don t happen again. His doctorate degree gives him the knowledge and respect he needs to run an efficient chemistry laboratory that helps patients quickly. And that can lead to saving lives. Every day, I learn about new clinical laboratory tests, Dr. Molinaro says. This information is so valuable for providing the best health care for patients. Every day, I learn about new clinical laboratory tests. This information is so valuable for providing the best health care for patients. Ross Molinaro, PhD, MT(ASCP) It takes patience and a steady hand to do what Histotechnologists do: slice tiny, paper-thin sections of tissue and apply special stains in preparation for them to be analyzed under a microscope. If you re good at working with your hands, being a Histotechnologist may be the right choice for you. Just ask Melissa C. Kemp, HTL(ASCP) CM, whose love of doing crafts led her to her dream career in the medical laboratory. I love science, and I love making things, Melissa says. I ve never been let down in my career as a Histotechnologist. Histotechnologists prepare tissue samples, or biopsies, that Pathologists look at to spot tiny imperfections in cells. This can involve working under pressure. Histotechnologists are sometimes called upon to prepare samples quickly during surgery to help surgeons assess the procedure s progress. Job opportunities for laboratory professionals are great, and the job market for Histotechnologists is especially strong. Experts believe that trend will continue well into the future. I love science, and I love making things. I ve never been let down in my career as a Histotechnologist. Melissa C. Kemp, HTL(ASCP) CM Excellent hand-eye coordination Precision and accuracy»histology» program accredited by NAACLS Earn certification as a Histotechnologist from the ASCP BOC. $54,080; Supervisor: $66,768 1 Critical thinking skills Ability to organize and lead others»doctorate» degree»post-doctoral» fellowship in clinical chemistry (optional) $100,000 to $110,000 3 Photography by Michael Schwarz Photography by Luci Pemoni

8 Cytotechnologist Examining cells to find cancer and infections today Technologist in Cytogenetics Looking into genes to find the diseases of tomorrow Familiarity with microscopes Ability to recognize patterns Education Requirements Cytotechnologist program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs Earn certification as a Cytotechnologist from the ASCP BOC. $61,235; Supervisor: $71,261 1 No one gets a closer look at the human body than the Cytotechnologist. These laboratory professionals use microscopes to pinpoint diseases and infections, all the way down to a single cell. If you re detail-oriented like Sean A. McNair, CT(ASCP) CM, it s the kind of career you ll love. Each day, he magnifies the tiniest cells to find patterns in their physical features. By doing this, he can alert doctors to changes in those patterns that could turn out to be cancer. My real-time assessments help provide a diagnosis, Sean says. It s a crucial step in determining if a patient needs further treatment. My real-time assessments help provide a diagnosis. It s a crucial step in determining if a patient needs further treatment. Sean A. McNair, CT(ASCP) CM Technologists in Cytogenetics help us see the future. By discovering how chromosomes affect human development, they help predict diseases that patients will have even before birth. By looking at specially treated cells under a microscope, Ashley Mariano, CG(ASCP) CM, can detect whether a baby will be born with a condition like Down syndrome or Turner syndrome. I thrive on learning about different diseases, Ashley says. We re crazy about genetics and want to learn more. Today doctors aim to diagnose diseases as early as possible. Because of this, the job market for Technologists in Cytogenetics is predicted to grow. I thrive on learning about different diseases. We re crazy about genetics and want to learn more. Ashley Mariano, CG(ASCP) CM An interest in genes Familiarity with microscopes Education Requirements Cytogenetic technology program accredited by NAACLS Earn a Technologist certification in Cytogenetics from the ASCP BOC. $54,413; Supervisor: $65,894 1 Photography by Leslie Barbaro Photography by Kevin Seifert

9 Technologist in Molecular Biology Fast-growing area of laboratory medicine Interest in the role of genes in laboratory medicine Precision and accuracy Medical (or Clinical) Laboratory Science or Molecular Biology program accredited by NAACLS Work experience in Molecular Biology Earn certification as a Technologist in Molecular Biology from the ASCP BOC. $54,413; Supervisor: $65,894 1* Molecular biology is the future of the clinical laboratory, because we are learning more and more about genetic information in DNA and how it affects diseases. There aren t many experts in the field, and those who do exist are in very high demand. Can you imagine how good it would feel to be one of them? That s the position Johanna Sloss, MB(ASCP) CM, is in. She started out as a Medical Laboratory Scientist but chose to focus on her favorite area: Molecular Biology. Now, because she s one of the field s few experts, medical professionals come from all over to take advantage of her expertise. Getting the ASCP certification in molecular biology shows my colleagues that I have the knowledge and expertise in my field, Johanna says. Specialize and take your career to the next level Believe it or not, once you ve begun your career and are doing a job you love, there are still opportunities to go farther. Whether you are a medical doctor like a pathologist or a certified laboratory professional, you can choose to specialize in your favorite area of expertise. Being a specialist puts your skills in high demand. That can mean a better chance of landing the job you want and often for a higher salary. Below are some of the most popular areas of specialty. Do any of them sound interesting to you? Because she s ASCP BOC-certified, her job prospects are booming. All because she made the choice to focus on her favorite field. Getting the ASCP certification in molecular biology shows my colleagues that I have the knowledge and expertise in my field. Johanna Sloss, MB(ASCP) CM * The 2010 Wage Survey did not include the Technologists in Molecular Biology. This wage is equated to that of Medical Laboratory Scientist since the level of skills and and responsibilities are similar. Areas of Specialty: Blood Banking Immunohistochemistry Breast Pathology Informatics Chemistry Laboratory Management Cytometry Laboratory Safety Dermatopathology Microbiology Forensic Pathology Neuropathology Hematology Pediatric Pathology Photography by Brent Nicastro 15 16

10 Resources Still have questions? ASCP Board of Certification Providing excellence in certification of laboratory professionals on behalf of patients worldwide. Contact these institutions for information on programs around the United States. Education Programs for Medical Laboratory Science, Medical Laboratory Technology, Histologic Technology, Cytogenetics, Molecular Pathology, Phlebotomy, and Pathologists Assistant. National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) Education Programs for Cytotechnology: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) Scholarships: Visit for a complete listing of current scholarships. Medical Schools: Liaison Committee on Medical Education Council on Medical Education American Medical Association Association of American Medical Colleges When you complete your education and clinical rotations, you can take an exam to become certified by the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP BOC). If you pass, your certification allows you to: Find better job prospects Earn higher salaries Add credentials such as MLS, MLT, CT, HTL, CG, MB, HT, PA, or PBT after your name Being ASCP BOC-certified also shows that you are competent and able to perform high-quality tests. And in the ASCP 2010 Wage Survey of U.S. Clinical Laboratories, people who were certified earned up to 14.7 percent more per year. To learn about ASCP BOC educational and clinical requirements, visit Job Listings: References: 1 Garcia E, Bennett A, DeFranco M, Schulze M, Tanabe P, Rodriguez F, Edward J, Lee H, American Society for Clinical Pathology s 2010 Wage Survey of U.S. Clinical Laboratories, LabMedicine. March 2011;42(3): Physician salaries. Salary.com website. www1.salary.com/physician-pathology-salary.html. Accessed March 27, Survey Monkey website. Accessed March 27,