BY Elizabeth Sobiech, MT (ASCP)
MLT Campus Coordinator, St. Cloud
What is the importance of professional membership for students?
Several of us are members of some sort of organization. For many of us the most important membership is the one to our professional organization. This is where we stay connected with our peers and keep up with the ever changing workforce. If nothing else we use our professional organization to obtain continuing education and maintain certification.
How do we instill the importance of professional organizations to our students?
We get them involved. Many professional organizations have discounted student memberships that allow students to really see the benefits of the organization at a reduced fee. Some students may even be able to obtain scholarship opportunities with a membership. Even the student that sees little importance in a student membership can benefit through the conferences and continuing education that support classroom concepts and helps prepare them for certification exams and the “real” world.
How are we getting involved in the St. Cloud MLT program?
On May 4, 2009, fifteen students and an instructor attended the ASCLS Clinical Laboratory Collaborative. Students started the day mingling with other Laboratory professionals before attending the keynote address “realistic Approaches to Patient Safety in the Clinical Laboratory” presented by Dr. Michael Astion. Students then took a tour of the Mayo laboratories including the Immunohematology, Microbiology and Central Laboratory. They even got to meet Sally the Laboratory robot. During the Lunch break students were able to visit the exhibit hall. There they stopped by booths supported by venders and potential employers. One of the highlights was the Abbott Diagnostics booth, where student saw the Abbott Architect in action and learned about the” Labs Are Vital” campaign. The students also picked up a lot of education recourses that will help in their lab studies as a whole. Students were able to finish out the day with an education lecture of their choosing, ranging from Bio-terrorism to AIDs in South Africa.
What was the overall benefit of this conference?
St. Cloud now has fifteen more students that understand the impotence of the professional organization and are excited to go back next year. A great beginning to a long and fulfilling professional career!