The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston’s Medical Laboratory Sciences department plans to hold the inaugural Medical Laboratory Sciences Summer Immersion Program in 2024. This intensive one-week program will be offered to high school and early college students.

Program Structure

UTMB welcomes students to attend a week-long summer program highlighting the MLS profession as a viable career option. Twenty students will be accepted in 2024, based on their application, academic profile, and a written essay focusing on the student’s future goals and reason for interest in the summer program.

Students will work with program coordinators and instructors each day beginning at 9:00am. Lectures, hands-on laboratory procedures, and group activity learning will be conducted throughout the day, with special presentations from invited guests regarding career options over lunch. Content areas for lectures and laboratory procedures will include:

1. Laboratory safety
2. Laboratory skills and techniques – microscope, centrifuge, pipetting
3. Microbiology laboratory procedures
4. Hematology laboratory procedures
5. Chemistry laboratory procedures
6. Urinalysis laboratory procedures
7. Molecular Biology laboratory procedures
8. Blood Bank laboratory procedures
9. Disease detection case studies
10. Tour of UTMB labs
11. MLS careers

Testimonials

"The program has top notch resources and provide firsthand experience. You learn a lot in a short amount of time and we are exposed to different scenarios." (SIP participant, 2023)

"Very interactive, you will learn so much that isn’t taught to you in school and you get an in depth and up close look into the field." (SIP participant, 2023)

"I loved how informative the program was as we did several procedures, everyone I interacted with was kind, and all my questions were answered." (SIP participant, 2023)

"I really enjoyed the lunch presentations because it gave me an opportunity to learn from many knowledgeable individuals who had experienced the CLS program." (SIP participant, 2023)

FAQS

• Q) Will housing be provided for accepted students?
• A) No housing will be provided to students.
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• Q) Will parking be provided for accepted students?
• Students will need to purchase parking tokens if they plan on parking on campus.
• Q) Is COVID immunization required for accepted students?
• A) Current policies do not mandate proof of COVID immunization for UTMB campuses and are not required. All sessions will be held in-person. No other restrictions are currently in effect. The student laboratory does adhere to universal precautions including the use of lab coat, gloves and eye covering as required based on lab procedures.

Questions

Direct any questions to the program coordinators at clsimmersion@utmb.edu

Program Coordinator

Muneeza Esani, PhD, MPH, MHA, MLS(ASCP)
Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Programs