Turn your love of science into a fun and rewarding career ... · Certification: » Earn certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist from the American Society for Clinical Pathology

Heroes in tHe Medical laboratory

don’t Just Make a difference.

be the difference.

Why choose a career in the medical laboratory?

• Turn your love of science into a fun and rewarding career.

• Enjoy strong job prospects nationwide.

• Make a great salary while helping people around you.

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

a medical laboratory careercan 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 youLearn about these jobs in the medical laboratory and what you’ll need to get started.

WHere do you seeyourselF in tHe Future?

Medical Laboratory Scientist Page 3Shareen 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)CMPACM Providing the hands-on assistance that pathologists need to help patients

Clinical Chemist Page 11Ross 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 15Johanna 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 18

earning an excellent salary while helping people live longer, fuller lives?

living andworking in the city of your dreams?

Having fun doing something that interests you?

1 2

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 ScientistStudying patients’ specimens to help doctors diagnose and treat diseases

“We issued blood quickly, and his condition stabilized. It played a huge role that day in saving his life.”

Shareen Lee, MLS(ASCP)CM

What you’ll need: » Strong science background

» Interest in solving puzzles

Education Requirements: » Bachelor’s degree in science

» Medical (or Clinical) Laboratory Science program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS)

Certification: » Earn certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist from the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP BOC).

Average Salary: » $54,413; Supervisor: $65,8941

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).

3 4Photography by Sara Press

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.

“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

What you’ll need: » Interest in science and technology

» Ability to be careful and organized

Education Requirements: » Associate’s degree

» Medical Laboratory Technician program accredited by NAACLS

Certification: » Earn certification as a Medical Laboratory Technician from the ASCP BOC.


Medical Laboratory TechnicianConducting tests that influence doctors’ treatment decisions

5 6Photography by Mark Erickson

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.

“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

What you’ll need: » Precision and accuracy

» High attention to detail

» Excellent people skills

Education Requirements: » High school diploma

» Phlebotomy training or work experience

Certification: » Earn certification as a Phlebotomy Technician or Donor Phlebotomy Technician from the ASCP BOC.


Photography by Polina Osherov

PhlebotomistWorking face-to-face with patients to draw blood samples

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)

What you’ll need:

» Strong science background

» Ability to recognize patterns

» Excellent leadership skills

Education Requirements:

» Four-year medical school program

» Residency program in Pathology

» One- or two-year fellowship program in anatomic or clinical pathology or both (optional)

Average Salary:

» $247,0132

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.

7 8Photography by Corey Hengen

PathologistThe doctor who diagnoses diseases at the microscopic level

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)CMPACM.

“I love the hands-on aspect and variety. I never know what I’ll get that day.”

Cheryl Talbott, MHS, CT(ASCP)CMPACM

What you’ll need: » High attention to detail

» Ability to touch and examine human cadavers


» Pathologists’ Assistant program accredited by NAACLS

Certification: » Earn certification as a Pathologists’ Assistant from the ASCP BOC.


9 10 Photography by Rick Madsen

“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.

Pathologists’ AssistantProviding the hands-on assistance that pathologists need to help patients

What you’ll need: » Critical thinking skills

» Ability to organize and lead others

Education Requirements: » Doctorate degree

» Post-doctoral fellowship in clinical chemistry (optional)

Average Salary: » $100,000 to $110,0003

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.”

Clinical ChemistGuiding doctors toward new, better ways to diagnose 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)

12Photography by Michael Schwarz

What you’ll need: » Excellent hand-eye coordination

» Precision and accuracy


» Histology program accredited by NAACLS

Certification: » Earn certification as a Histotechnologist from the ASCP BOC.


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

Photography by Luci Pemoni11

HistotechnologistPreparing tissue samples to help pathologists diagnose diseases

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

CytotechnologistExamining cells to find cancer and infections today

What you’ll need: » Familiarity with microscopes » Ability to recognize patterns

Education Requirements » Bachelor’s degree in science » Cytotechnologist program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs

Certification: » Earn certification as a Cytotechnologist from the ASCP BOC.


What you’ll need: » An interest in genes » Familiarity with microscopes

Education Requirements » Bachelor’s degree in science

» Cytogenetic technology program accredited by NAACLS

Certification: » Earn a Technologist certification in Cytogenetics from the ASCP BOC.


13 14 Photography by Kevin SeifertPhotography by Leslie Barbaro

Technologist in CytogeneticsLooking into genes to find the diseases of tomorrow

What you’ll need: » 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

Certification: » Earn certification as a Technologist in Molecular Biology from the ASCP BOC.

Average Salary: » $54,413; Supervisor: $65,8941*

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.

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

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Specialize and take your career to the next level

Technologist in Molecular BiologyFast-growing area of laboratory medicine

Photography by Brent Nicastro

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?

Areas of Specialty:

• Blood Banking

• Breast Pathology

• Chemistry

• Cytometry

• Dermatopathology

• Forensic Pathology

• Hematology

• Immunohistochemistry

• Informatics

• Laboratory Management

• Laboratory Safety

• Microbiology

• Neuropathology

• Pediatric Pathology* 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.

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)

773.714.8880 www.naacls.org

Education Programs for Cytotechnology:

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)

727.210.2350 www.caahep.org

Scholarships:

Visit www.ascp.org/scholarships for a complete listing of current scholarships.

Medical Schools:

Liaison Committee on Medical Education Council on Medical Education American Medical Association

312.464.4933 www.lcme.org/directry.htm

Association of American Medical Colleges

202.828.0400 www.aamc.org/about/medicalschools/

ResourcesStill have questions?

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 www.ascp.org/certification.

Job Listings:

• www.ascp.org/careercenter

• www.facebook.com/ASCP.Chicago

• www.pathologyoutlines.com/jobs

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):141-146.

2 Physician salaries. Salary.com website. www1.Salary.com/Physician-Pathology-Salary.html. Accessed March 27, 2012.

3 Survey Monkey website. http://svy.mk/ClinicalChemistWage. Accessed March 27, 2012.

ASCP Board of CertificationProviding excellence in certification of laboratory professionals on behalf of patients worldwide.

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Turn your love of science into a fun and rewarding career ... · Certification: » Earn certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist from the American Society for Clinical Pathology