Have you ever wondered what happens after you have a blood test or biopsy? One Afton student had the chance to find out by participating in a medical laboratory science job shadowing program offered through Bassett Healthcare Network and CNYAHEC. Amber Sypniefski, a sophomore, had the unique opportunity to spend fifteen hours at Tri-Town Regional Hospital, where she explored how the role of the laboratory impacts the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease.

“My favorite part of the experience was being able to see the difference between if a person has cancer and if they are healthy,” said Amber about her time at Tri-Town Regional Hospital. “I recommend the job shadowing program to others. It’s a great way to learn different things that most people may not know about in the laboratory. I enjoyed it all!”

“The medical laboratory science job shadowing program is an excellent way for students to learn about the exciting opportunities in this high-demand career,” said Rebecca Brooks-White, Laboratory Manager at Tri-Town Regional Hospital. “We encourage students who are interested in science, and love doing hands-on laboratory work, to apply for the program. Amber took advantage of the opportunity and was able to get an in-depth look at the blood collection process, how blood specimens are processed, and the microscope identification involved in certain types of medical tests.”

In addition to gaining ‘real-life’ work experience in a local hospital, students also benefit from career counseling and guidance services that the program provides to those interested in pursuing medical laboratory science in college. The job outlook for careers in the medical laboratory is bright. According to the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the medical laboratory scientist job outlook is expected to grow 16 percent from 2014 to 2024, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.

The program accepts applications from high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors. If you, or your student, is interested in learning more about the program, please contact Laura Cichostepski, CNYAHEC’s Program Manager at (607) 756-1090 or info@cnyhec.org. Interested students may download an application by visiting CNYAHEC’s website.