Saint Anselm College Partners with Veterans Affairs New England Healthcare System for Medical Laboratory Science Program

Saint Anselm College is excited to announce its newest academic partnership with the VA New England Healthcare System (VAMC) offering students a robust educational experience with the Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) Program. Through this collaboration students are immersed in a VA clinical laboratory setting where they will receive course instruction from MLS faculty. 

This opportunity provides Saint Anselm students with direct entry to a career in Medical Laboratory Science, a high demand health profession, offering a powerful blend of purpose, science and impact into their post-collegiate careers. The MLS Program provides graduates with the education to obtain a professional certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) and obtain an MLS position with the VA New England Healthcare System.

The MLS Program is catered towards Saint Anselm alumni and students with an interest in problem solving, critical thinking, and hands-on science, who meet eligibility requirements.

Students can complete the VAMC’s program in under a year. Beginning in September and ending in July of their senior year, participants will engage in high quality clinical and didactic training. Course instruction provided includes clinical microbiology, transfusion medicine, and clinical hematology. Hands-on laboratory experience gives students a chance to apply knowledge in a laboratory setting with an engaged team of professionals providing care to veterans in the community.

Students in the program will learn a variety of practical skills by:

• Gathering accurate and timely results by following established clinical laboratory procedures and policies
• Becoming effective communicators who exhibit ethical behavior
• Gaining insight into professional leadership
• Understanding research design applicable to the improvement of care and clinical lab
• Seeing the value in maintaining professional competency and growth

“This exciting partnership with the New England VA Healthcare System provides our students with an entry point to become a medical laboratory scientist, a profession that plays a vital role in patient care,” said Jean School Dean Diane Uzarski, DNP.

“This important certification provides a foundation for laboratory careers in both clinical and research settings – and opportunities to advance into education, research or leadership roles in healthcare.”

To be eligible for the MLS Program, students must complete:

• 16 hours of chemistry including organic or biochemistry
• 16 hours of biology including microbiology and immunology
• One semester of college level mathematics

It is recommended that students have also taken one semester of physics and statistics, though not required. Once accepted into the program, students work with academic advisors to enroll in courses. *

For more information about the MLS Program, all eligibility requirements, or how to apply, contact Professor Carolyn Weinreb, Ph.D., program liaison/faculty advisor at Saint Anselm. 

The VA New England Healthcare System MLS Program is seeking accreditation by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), 5600 N. River Road, Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018, 773-714-8880.

*Completion of prerequisite courses does not guarantee admission to the MLS program.