Education at Pennsylvania Hospital: Medical Laboratory Science
Program overview
Program Director
Derick Lim, MS, SC(ASCP)CM, MLS(ASCP)CM
Pennsylvania Hospital
Since its founding as the first hospital in the nation in 1751 by Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Thomas Bond, Pennsylvania Hospital has been an innovator in patient care, treatment techniques and medical research. It has established a national reputation for routine and high-risk obstetrics, care of high-risk newborns and multiple births, orthopaedics, cardiac care, neurosciences, hematology, oncology, urology, fertility care and behavioral health.
Pennsylvania Hospital, a 475-bed facility, admits more than 21,000 patients and handles 118,000 outpatient visits annually. As part of the University of Pennsylvania Health System, Pennsylvania Hospital provides training to some of the nation's leading medical professionals.
Medical laboratory science
Laboratory tests play an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Medical laboratory scientists perform these tests on blood and other body fluids using a variety of sophisticated equipment. As a medical laboratory scientist, you will have the knowledge of physiological conditions that affect test results enabling you to report accurate data that can be used by the physician to determine the presence, extent, and cause of certain diseases.
Medical laboratory scientists may be employed by hospitals, independent laboratories, clinics, public health facilities, or private industry. They may perform technical duties as well as have supervisory or managerial responsibilities. Additional opportunities also exist in areas such as research, pharmaceuticals, molecular diagnostics, biotechnology, sales, and teaching.
School of Medical Laboratory Science at Pennsylvania hospital
The School of Medical Laboratory Science functions within the general structure of the Ayer Clinical Laboratory and is supported as a part of a commitment to provide health care and education to the community. The program accepts 15 students annually. Hospital Administration continues to support the program in its commitment to provide health education to the students. We have state-of-the-art technology to diagnose diseases and offer a stimulating and challenging atmosphere for our students and staff.
Our program aims to provide students with an appreciation for the professional responsibility of rendering service to the sick and injured. Students are given both practical and theoretical training in various sections of the clinical laboratory. The practicum is a 10-month rotating program based on a 40-hour week, beginning in August (Fall cohort) or January (Spring cohort). The program devotes six hours per week to formal lectures.
Students obtain practical experience through rotations in the following sections of the clinical laboratory:
- blood bank
- chemistry
- microscopy
- hematology
- microbiology
- immunology/virology
- urinalysis
Program mission statement
The Pennsylvania Hospital School of Medical Laboratory Science has a responsibility to:
- Provide quality education for students seeking a profession in Medical Laboratory Science
- To develop in its students an appreciation of the professional responsibility of rendering service to the sick and injured
Program goals
In order to achieve its mission, the Pennsylvania Hospital School of Medical Laboratory Science will:
- Maintain accreditation under the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
- Provide state-of-the-art technology and a stimulating and challenging atmosphere for its students
- Immerse its students in the day to day responsibilities of laboratory staff who are committed to the mission, vision and values of Pennsylvania Hospital
- Provide the community with laboratory practitioners who have a comprehensive knowledge of all aspects of clinical laboratory operation and management
- Prepare students for successful completion of national certification exam in medical laboratory science
Program outcome measures
Graduation, Employment and Certification Rates:
| Class | Number of Students | Graduated | Employed by Penn Medicine | Total Employed | ASCP Certification Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 2025 – December 2025 | 5 | 80% (4/5) | 100% (4/4) | 100% (4/4) | 100% (4/4) |
| August 2024 – May 2025 | 9 | 100% (9/9) | 67% (6/9) | 89% (8/9) | 100% (9/9) |
| January 2024 – December 2024 | 1 | 100% (1/1) | 100% (1/1) | 100% (1/1) | 100% (1/1) |
| August 2023 – May 2024 | 6 | 83% (5/6) | 80% (4/5) | 100% (5/5) | 80% (4/5) |
| January 2023 – December 2023 | 4 | 75% (3/4) | 67% (2/3) | 100% (3/3) | 67% (2/3) |
Resources
The 10-month rotating program at the Pennsylvania Hospital School of Medical Laboratory Science is based on a 40-hour week. The following table outlines the courses for all students in the program:
Note: Affiliated colleges and universities assign course credit according to individual requirements.
Course Number: MLS 490 Course
Title: Clinical Hematology and Coagulation
Total Lecture Hours: 34
Total Lab Rotation: 7 week rotation Course Credit: 7.0 hours
Course Description: Composition and function of blood; diseases related to blood disorders; and role of platelets and coagulation. Manual and automated techniques of diagnostics tests for abnormalities.
Course Number: MLS 491
Course Title: Clinical Immunohematology
Total Lecture Hours: 26
Total Lab Rotation: 7 week rotation Course Credit: 6.0 hours
Course Description: Review of immunologic and genetic principles that relate to immunohematology. Procedures/topics cover blood collection, donor testing, storage and labeling of blood products, pre-transfusion testing, adverse reactions to transfusion, histocompatibility and regulatory requirements of FDA, CAP, and AABB.
Course Number: MLS 492
Course Title: Clinical Chemistry
Total Lecture Hours: 32
Total Lab Rotation: 6 week rotation Course Credit: 7.0 hours
Course Description: Enzymology; endocrinology; biochemistry of lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins; metabolism of nitrogenous end products; physiology and metabolism of fluids and electrolytes; and toxicology as related to the body and disease. Technical procedures include colorimetry, spectrophotometry, electrophoresis, chromatography, automation, and quality control.
Course Number: MLS 494
Course Title: Clinical Immunology, Serology, and Virology
Total Lecture Hours: 11
Total Lab Rotation: 2 week rotation Course Credit: 3.0 hours
Course Description: Immune response, immunoglobulins, autoimmunity, complement, disorders of immunity, and related tests. Survey and demonstration of serological diagnostic tests. Basic principles of virology, spirochetology, flow cytometry, and immunophenotyping.
Course Number: MLS 495
Course Title: Clinical Seminar I
Total Lecture Hours: 23 Total
Lab Rotation: 4.0 week rotation Course Credit: 4.0 hours
Course Description: Includes courses in Phlebotomy, Specimen Collection and Processing, Education, Cytogenetics, and Molecular Pathology.
Course Number: MLS 496
Course Title: Clinical Urinalysis
Total Lecture Hours: 7
Total Lab Rotation: 2 week rotation Course Credit: 2.0 hours
Course Description: Renal anatomy and physiology, normal and abnormal urinary constituents, basic laboratory urinalysis, including processing, analysis, and reporting results of urine specimens. Formation, function, and testing of body fluids.
Course Number: MLS 497
Course Title: Clinical Seminar II Total
Lecture Hours: 14 Course Credit: 1.0 hour
Course Description: Includes lectures in Orientation, Introduction to Medical Laboratory Science, Laboratory Safety, HIPAA, Library Services, Research Design, Laboratory Information System, and Laboratory Procedure Writing.
Course Number: MLS 498
Course Title: Technical Training
Total Lab Rotation: < 20 hours per week Offered: As needed by individual laboratory Course Credit: 1.0 hour
Course Description: A training level position designed to offer additional training outside of academic hours in a particular area of the laboratory. After completion of the required laboratory rotation, the trainee may perform tests directly under the supervision of a medical laboratory scientist or supervisor. The training is non-compulsory, but is an integral component of the established curriculum as it builds on skills learned during the required rotation and immerses the student in a real-time laboratory experience. Students are compensated an hourly training level wage.
Essential Functions of the Program
The student must, with or without reasonable accommodation, have sufficient:
- Visual acuity to be able to identify microscopic structures, cells, organisms and color recognition; to operate analytical instruments appropriately and safely without substantially endangering students, coworkers, and patients.
- Fine motor skills and manual dexterity to obtain and manipulate specimens, reagents, instruments and analytical equipment according to established guidelines with speed, accuracy, precision and in a manner that does not endanger others.
- Communication skills to effectively convey and/or explain results to other health care personnel, both within and outside the laboratory.
- Interactive skills to maintain cooperative and productive working relationships with patients and other health care personnel.
- Emotional stability to exercise appropriate judgment in responding to emergency situations that may present in the health care environment.
- Ability to effectively handle stressful situations. Ability, with or without reasonable accommodation, to safely perform all core tasks required of a medial laboratory scientist