
Welcome Students!
As you are gaining the education portion of the laboratory field, ASCLS is a great way to enhance your experience in your future career. ASCLS has over 10,000 members nationwide and is a great way to network. Networking can broaden the professional growth and further career development.
There are state, regional, and national meetings that are held continually throughout the year. These meetings are great way to learn new and exciting things within the laboratory field and also a good way to keep up with continuing education. Members receive a bimonthly journal featuring articles on research activities, technology, education, government actions, and P.A.C.E. credits. Members also receive ASCLS Today Magazine with updated information on activities in legislative, education, and other areas.
What is a Medical Laboratory Science Professional?
"Medical laboratory science professionals," often called medical laboratorians, are vital healthcare detectives, uncovering and providing laboratory information from laboratory analyses that assist physicians in patient diagnosis and treatment, as well as in disease monitoring or prevention (maintenance of health). We use sophisticated biomedical instrumentation and technology, computers, and methods requiring manual dexterity to perform laboratory testing on blood and body fluids. Laboratory testing encompasses such disciplines as clinical chemistry, hematology, immunology, immunohematology, microbiology, and molecular biology. Medical laboratory science professionals generate accurate laboratory data that are needed to aid in detecting cancer, heart attacks, diabetes, infectious mononucleosis, and identification of bacteria or viruses that cause infections, as well as in detecting drugs of abuse. In addition, we monitor testing quality and consult with other members of the healthcare team.
The medical laboratory science profession has more than one career track based on level of education: medical laboratory technician (2 years) and medical laboratory scientist (4 to 5 years). Medical laboratory technicians are competent in the collection, processing, and analysis of biological specimens, the performance of lab procedures, the maintenance of instruments, and relating lab findings to common diseases/conditions. Medical laboratory scientists have a more extensive theoretical knowledge base. Therefore they not only perform laboratory procedures including very sophisticated analyses but also evaluate/interpret the results, integrate data, problem solve, consult, conduct research and develop new test methods" (www.ascls.org).
Click Here to Explore Laboratory Practices
ASCLS MN Student Facebook Group
I am a Medical Lab Scientist Video
Scholarships for Students Enrolled in Laboratory Profession Programs
There are several scholarships available to students enrolled in accredited programs. At the state level, students must be enrolled in a MLS/MT or MLT program in Minnesota.
There are also many scholarships at the national level open to
students throughout the United States.
The majority of the scholarships require the following:
Enrolled in an accredited program
GPA 2.7 or better
In final year of study
Demonstration of financial need
Demonstration of leadership and community activities
State Level
The Minnesota scholarships are sponsored by ASCLS-MN (includes Clausson Fund and Elizabeth Panning Scholarship) and
Minnesota Society of Pathologists (MSP).
These scholarships are available to MLS/MT and MLT students.
The application and recommendation form can be downloaded below.
National Level
The scholarships that are available through national organizations are open to MLS/MT; MLT; HT; CT; and Phlebotomy students. Specific requirements can be reviewed at their respective websites.
http://www.ascp.org/scholarships will direct you to the scholarships offered by ASCP, available to CT, HT, HTL, Phlebotomist, MLT, MLS and MT.
The Siemens scholarships are also handled by ASCP, which include fifty scholarships of $1000 each for MLS/MT students and fifty scholarships for MLT students.
MN NAACLS
Accredited Programs
Histotechnology Programs
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
200 1st St. SW
Rochester MN 55905
Program Director Ms. Michelle Nelsen MS, HTL(ASCP)cm
(507) 266-4911
St. Cloud State University
740 4th Ave South
St. Cloud, MN 56301
Program Director Louise Millis, MS, MLS(ASCP)cm
(320) 308-5438
Phlebotomy Programs
Hennepin County Medical Center
Clinical Laboratories HCMC
701 Park Avenue, P4
Minneapolis MN 55415
Program Director Lynn Poth MS, MT(ASCP)cm
(612) 873-3022
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
200 First Street SW
Rochester MN 55905
Program Director Erin Peper MS, PBT (ASCP)
(507) 266-5951
Saint Paul College
235 Marshall Avenue St. Paul MN 55102-1807
Program Director Kelsey Dodson
(651) 350-3117
Medical Laboratory Technician Programs
Alexandria Technical and Community College
1601 Jefferson Street
Alexandria MN 56308
Program Director Ms. Wanda Haberer MS, MT(ASCP)cm
(320) 762-4524
Hibbing Community College
Hibbing Campus
Hibbing MN 55746-
Program Director Ms. Laura Parendo MBA, MT(ASCP)cm
(218) 262-7254
Lake Superior College
2101 Trinity Road
Duluth MN 55811
Program Director Ms. Virginia Haynes MS, MT(ASCP)cm
(218) 733-5952
Minnesota State Community & Technical College - Fergus Falls
1414 College Way
Fergus Falls MN 56537
Program Director Christie Massen Ph.D., MS, MLS(ASCP)cm
(701) 537-2244
Minnesota West Community & Technical College
311 North Spring Street
Luverne MN 56156
Program Director Dr. Rita Miller EdD, MLS(ASCP)cm
(507) 449-2763
North Hennepin Community College
7411 85th Avenue North
Brooklyn Park MN 55445
Program Director Ms. Ashley Martin MS, MLS(ASCP)cm
(763) 424-0714
Northwestern Health Sciences University
2501 West 84th Street
Bloomington, MN 55431
Program Director Audrey Anderson MSM, MT(ASCP)cm
(952) 888-4777
Rasmussen College - Lake Elmo
8565 Eagle Point Circle
Lake Elmo MN 55042
Program Director Ms. Tammy Renner MS, MT(ASCP)cm
(701) 471-5501
Saint Paul College
235 Marshall Avenue
St. Paul MN 55102-1807
Program Director Ms. Michelle Briski MEd, MT(ASCP)cm
(651) 846-1421
South Central College
1920 Lee Blvd.
North Mankato MN 56003-
Program Director Ms. Stacy Hammett MS, MT(ASCP)cm
(507) 389-7461
Medical Laboratory Sciences Programs
Hennepin County Medical Center
Clinical Laboratories HCMC
701 Park Avenue, P4
Minneapolis MN 55415-1676
Program Director Lynn Poth, MS, MT (ASCP) MLS
(612) 873-3022
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology
Rochester MN 55905
Program Director Susan Lehman MA, MT(ASCP)cm
(507) 284-3042
Northwestern Health Sciences University
2501 West 84th Street
Bloomington, MN 55431
Program Director Audrey Anderson MSM, MT (ASCP)cm
(952) 888-4777
University of Minnesota
Medical Laboratory Sciences Program
MMC 711 420 Delaware St. SE
Minneapolis MN 55455-0374
Program Director Donna Spannus-Martin Ph.D., MLS(ASCP)cm
(612) 625-4428
MLT to MLS Programs
St. Cloud State University
269 Wick Science Building
St Cloud MN 56301-4498
Program Director Louise Millis MS, MLS(ASCP)cm
(320) 308-5438