{"id":223038,"date":"2025-01-21T07:06:40","date_gmt":"2025-01-21T12:06:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?p=223038"},"modified":"2025-01-21T08:52:30","modified_gmt":"2025-01-21T13:52:30","slug":"allied-health-students-gain-a-glimpse-into-specialized-lab","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2025\/01\/allied-health-students-gain-a-glimpse-into-specialized-lab\/","title":{"rendered":"Allied Health Students Gain a Glimpse into Specialized Lab"},"content":{"rendered":"

To prepare students for future careers as laboratory professionals, the <\/span>Department of Allied Health Sciences<\/span><\/a> (AHS) and the <\/span>Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory<\/span><\/a> (CVMDL) began a partnership in 2022 to provide an experiential learning opportunity as part of their coursework. Students tour the CVMDL and observe first-hand to understand the workings of an active service center performing diagnostic laboratory work and research at UConn Storrs. The CVMDL is located within the <\/span>Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The opportunity to learn about the CVMDL and to tour the facility was designed for students in the <\/span>Medical Laboratory Sciences<\/span><\/a> (MLS) and <\/span>Diagnostic Genetic Sciences<\/span><\/a> (DGS) professional degree programs as part of the course Laboratory Operations and Professional Practice (MLSC 4500) co-taught by <\/span>Bruce Blanchard<\/span><\/a>, assistant clinical professor and director of the MLS program, and Lauren Corso, MLS faculty and researcher. Blanchard and CVMDL laboratory technicians Maureen Sims and Holly McGinnis formed the partnership to provide students with an opportunity to connect their classwork directly to practice.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFor many students, this is often their first look at a diagnostic laboratory,\u201d says Maureen Sims. \u201cThe introduction shapes students’ understanding and knowledge before a semester-long internship at a clinical affiliate, and their future careers as allied health professionals.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Zeinab<\/a>
Zeinab Helal micropipettes samples the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory on April 7, 2021. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"Jiyeon<\/a>
Jiyeon Hyeon, a postdoctoral fellow, works at the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory on April 7, 2021. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"Ticks<\/a>
Ticks at the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory on July 21, 2017. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"Students<\/a>
Students work in the pathology section of the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (CVMDL), which includes necropsy spaces and a histology laboratory for tissue preparation and testing. (Contributed Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"Alyza<\/a>
Alyza Barbieri '21 (CLAS) works at the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory on April 7, 2021. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"A<\/a>
A student studies samples with a caliper in the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (CVMDL) in the Wilbur O. Atwater Laboratory (ATWR). July 21, 2021. (Jason Sheldon\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"Students<\/a>
Students and staff from the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (CVMDL) pose for a photo in front of their research posters at the One Health conference, organized by the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR) in the Student Union (SU) Ballroom on April 1, 2024. (Contributed Photo)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>