Following five years working as a lab assistant in the University of Vermont Medical Center’s Surgical Pathology Department, Rachel Trahan, MLS M.S. '18, craved something more.
“I really enjoyed the laboratory area but wanted more challenges on a daily basis,” said Trahan, who chose the Medical Laboratory Science master’s degree program as a path to growth in an evolving field. The degree provides options to work in a variety of laboratory specialty areas, with the potential for advancement to a leadership role.
The Medical Laboratory Science master’s program encourages students to think critically about biomedical research and design, implement their own research questions and work as leaders in a team environment while employing evidence-based laboratory practice and clinical decision-making for better patient outcomes. A guided capstone experience involves research with faculty mentors who promote scientific inquiry.
Starting graduate school while working full time quickly brought on a set of new challenges, Trahan said; and she found support among her faculty and peers.
“The faculty are available for help and genuinely want you to learn the material,” said Trahan, adding that smaller classes allow faculty to adapt to different learning styles. This encouragement, she adds, allows students to feel comfortable sharing their own ideas and opinions.
"Professors are able to prompt students with scenarios and questions that differ from person to person, because they are based on individual beliefs and values. This requires students to think independently; but also gives them a chance to listen to their peers and understand how and why people may have different points of view,” said Trahan.
This collaborative experience is an integral part of the program, according to Medical Laboratory and Radiation Sciences Department Chair Paula Deming. Students frequently critique each other’s work, which builds a sense of community and shared responsibility for one another’s success.
For her capstone project, Trahan is working with a lab quality manager in the UVM Medical Center’s Surgical Pathology Department to address an issue that causes unnecessary delays in patient care. Trahan’s research will result in a proposal for improved efficiency.
“The knowledge I have gained as a student will allow me to provide high-quality patient care in the form of reliable and accurate laboratory results,” said Trahan. “Being able to think critically and trouble-shoot will give me the ability to perform new complex testing procedures that can give physicians and patients more information on medical conditions and disease processes.”
Students in the Medical Laboratory Science M.S. program learn to apply knowledge and practice leadership skills that foster an ability to work well in clinical teams, said Deming. “It is our hope and belief that MLS M.S. graduates will become leaders and advanced practitioners in the profession.”