High school students learn about medical laboratory careers amid shortage
Medical workers are recruiting the next generation of scientists, right in Baltimore.
Some Baltimore City high school juniors visited Sinai Hospital to learn about laboratory medical services careers where there is a critical shortage.
The students are part of Building Steps, an organization that works with underserved youth in the city.
They rotated in groups through the labs, learning how to test for strep throat, blood type and how blood disorders are diagnosed. They also learned about testing for RSV, flu and different bacteria.
"Medical laboratory science takes into account all of the different specimens that are drawn from our clinical team members. We analyze the samples, diagnose patients and that is what the doctors use to treat patients," administrative director of laboratory sciences Kathleen Lewis said. "It's nice to make sure that all of the students understand all of the rules in the lab."
Students explored the pathology lab and the blood bank.
"In terms of careers, I really liked the blood. It got me really thinking about how much they do and how much they help behind the scenes, which I really did not know. It gets me to think about what I could do in the blood bank instead of just going straight to being a doctor," student Dream Jordan said.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a nationwide need for an additional 13% of medical lab technologists and technicians from 2024-26.
Officials believe exposing students to the labs will help attract future scientists.
"There has been a lot of boomers retiring. COVID-19 compounded the problem. A lot of the lab scientists got burned out during the pandemic because of all the testing that had to be done, the long hours," program coordinator Laura Biagiotti said.
Hospitals, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute of Health are just some of the laboratories in need of technicians.
