Senior students in Ferris State University’s Medical Laboratory Science degree program get hands-on opportunities to master skills in a simulation lab, with 16-week internships as a capstone. 

Medical Laboratory Science program coordinator Daniel deRegnier said the simulation lab is where MLS students can apply what they learned in previous coursework while experiencing many real-life situations in clinical operations. 

“We have the students ordering tests, processing samples, running assays, recording data, troubleshooting errors, reporting results, and even taking calls to simulate interactions with medical professionals,” deRegnier said. “They are placing specimens on agar plates and processing bacteria for identification, typing blood samples and cross-matching for surgery, along with aspects of Hematology, Chemistry and Urinalysis.” 

DeRegnier said there are many opportunities for students to use modern automated instrumentation to simulate the variety of operations common for a clinic or laboratory in their situations.

“We have collaborative partners, such as Bronson Healthcare in southwest Michigan, who will offer us equipment as they upgrade their laboratory supplies,” deRegnier said. “We do purchase some of the instrumentation we have in the simulation lab and take many working units that are offered to us.” 

In one section of the simulated lab, Medical Laboratory Science senior Jenna Murphy, from Lansing, works to determine blood clotting times. She is in a weekly rotation with roles assigned that include section managers to present students with a broad experience during this final semester on campus. 

“We have real samples and tests to complete that show us the kind of work that will come our way in the lab,” Murphy said. “It is important to understand how to interact appropriately with doctors and other medical professionals.” 

“We want our students comfortable with applying their skills on equipment they will be using during their 16-week internships,” deRegnier said. “That includes exposing them to laboratory information systems used to collect and record patient information. The attention to detail and the level of involvement in this lab setting is what we believe separates us from our peers in other MLS programs, based on what we hear about our students from contacts in healthcare.”

Visitors are welcome to the Medical Laboratory Science Simulation Lab, with tours available Tuesday through Thursday each week from 3 to 5:30 p.m. in the Victor F. Spathelf Center for Allied Health Building (VFS) 421. Those interested are invited to call (231) 591-2268 before Tuesday, Nov. 21.