The primary responsibilities of a medical lab scientist are to perform tests on blood, and body fluids to identify the source of infections, and to perform typing, and cross matching on patients needing transfusions. Our medical lab science program consists of two parts. We have an on campus part where students study science and liberal education. And we have an 18 week clinical rotation up at Dartmouth Hitchcock.
In high school I learned that I love lab work. I like working with medical instruments tools to use to take measurements of samples and once I got to Colby Sawyer and I learned about the MLS program, I learned that it was something for me and something that I wanted to pursue.
Students are in the classroom. For the majority of the time, as well as in the laboratory.
Students take a suite of courses math courses in biology and chemistry, in Medical Laboratory Science, building the skill sets to be ready their senior fall to do an 18 week, clinical experience up at Dartmouth Hitchcock.
Once the students arrive at Dartmouth, they're working in a laboratory they work in four sections hematology, microbiology, chemistry and the blood bank.
You're learning specific lab techniques.
The advantage of our medical lab science program is that it allows students to live on campus for four years so they can continue to participate in athletics, clubs, and activities with their friends. Our program prepares students to work in hospitals in industry and in research. It also prepares students very well for postgraduate work,
--and will have those skill sets ready to go to be hired in hospitals or other clinical lab settings after they graduate.