Heritage University to graduate 12 new medical laboratory scientists to fulfill professional needs of medical community

Toppenish, Wash. – Heritage University’s Medical Laboratory Science Program will graduate 12 individuals who are primed to help meet the demand for high-skilled medical laboratory scientists in our community and nationwide.

While enrolled in the Heritage MLS program, the students trained four days a week in clinical laboratories of regional partners including Virginia Mason Memorial Hospital, Astria Regional Medical Center, Lourdes Medical Center, Kadlec Regional Medical Center, TriCities Laboratories and Trios Southridge. The students ran tests on patient samples, with results being used by physicians and nurses to diagnose illness and monitor treatments. They also performed culture and sensitivity testing on microorganisms, tested samples for hormones, glucose, cholesterol and electrolytes, and monitored medication levels in blood.

Terese Abreu, director of the MLS program at Heritage says as graduates, they are now skilled in the main sections of laboratory medicine: chemistry, hematology, microbiology and transfusion services. “They’re ready for successful careers in the medical field where they’ll work in local hospital laboratories, doctors’ offices and pain management clinics, to name just a few of the opportunities,” said Abreu.

“The need for medical professionals in the lab is so vast, we are pleased to be partners with Heritage University in helping to fulfill this need in our community,” said Diane Patterson, chief of operations at Virginia Mason Memorial Hospital.

The graduates are preparing to take the national certificate exam to earn their medical laboratory scientists credentials. Abreu says Heritage graduates have a 98% pass rate on the national exam, and the scores they earn are often above the national average.

Heritage University will celebrate the graduates’ accomplishments with a ceremony on August 17, 2018 at 4:00 p.m.in Smith Family Hall located in the Arts & Sciences Center at its main campus in Toppenish. As part of the ceremony, the dozen students that make up the MLS program’s class of 2018 will demonstrate the medical laboratory science skills they’ve acquired. “This exercise is meant to build confidence in their abilities,” said Abreu. “The graduates will remember fondly where they were when they started at day one, and then they’ll see how far they’ve come in their professional program year.”

For more information, contact Terese Abreu at (509) 865-8642 or Abreu_T@Heritage.edu.

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