With Medical Lab Science Students Meets Community Need
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Professor Abreu and her
2009-10 student cohort. |
"We saw an excellent opportunity for a service learning project in our isolated rural area, where few continuing education (CE) opportunities are available for our Medical Laboratory affiliates and recent graduates. To address this need, we developed a project that provides students practical experience in education, resaerch, professional enculturation and teamwork. Each student researches and presents a topic at a community CE Day Seminar that is held at the University. Students attend our state society's Spring CE Seminar for ideas and then work together to advertise, secure a sponsor, prepare program flyer, provide lunch and secure P.A.C.E.® approval for their sessions under the guidance and oversight of the program faculty. MLS students are matched with graduate student mentors from the College of Education who help them with the preparation of an engaging lesson. Dress rehersals are conducted where
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Heritage MLS Grads Outscore
National Average |
students provide feedback to each other regarding the effectiveness of their presentations. We have presented the CE Day Seminar for two years. It was well received as indicated by the number and variety of attendees and their evaluation of the presentations. Our program is promoted in the community, students receive job offers from participants and affiliate mentors become energized working with the students on this project. While the project takes time, student reflections indicate increased confidence and an overall sense of achievement. Valued experiences included a better understandign of the real work involved in the education process, a chance to develop their public speaking skills, and the enjoyment of networking with the laboratory community."
--From an abstract submitted by Terese Abreu, Assistant Professor and Chair of Medical Laboratory Science