Leading the Lab

For Lacey Murphy, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, assistant professor in the Department of Pathology, the allure of medical laboratory science (MLS) lies in the combination of scientific theory and its practical application in the medical field. It is the perfect blend of her love for science and her desire to make a tangible impact on health care.

Five years ago, she shifted her focus from working in clinical laboratories to educating future medical laboratory scientists in the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine Medical Laboratory Sciences Division.  

Murphy initially came to the University of Utah intending to pursue an undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering. However, at freshman orientation, she found herself in front of a microscope, having been inadvertently placed with pre-medical laboratory science students. This serendipitous mix-up ultimately led Murphy to change her major and pursue MLS after a year of engineering. Once in the program, she knew she wanted not only to be a medical laboratory scientist but also a future educator sharing her passion for the profession with students. 

Now, Murphy is an MLS faculty member dedicated to growing the University of Utah’s MLS program and nurturing the next generation of students who will provide invaluable support for patient care in the community.

“There has been a decline in the number of graduates completing medical laboratory science programs across the nation.”

“There has been a decline in the number of graduates completing medical laboratory science programs across the nation,” Murphy says. “However, the University of Utah’s commitment to growth and innovation has inspired the MLS division to expand our programs—increasing faculty and student resources in an effort to double the number of students we can graduate each year.”

In collaboration with ARUP Laboratories—and through the support of a $3 million HRSA grant award—MLS is now establishing an advanced-practice clinical laboratory training center for students, equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation and facilities. This experiential learning space will enhance the hands-on training received during clinical rotations and better prepare students to enter the profession.

As the program evolves, so too does Murphy’s methods of engagement. In 2022, she joined the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine Alumni Board as the first representative from the MLS division.

Murphy says that the MLS division’s new internal alumni committee aims to forge relationships and expand involvement of medical laboratory scientists within the larger alumni association—with the intention of making a difference in the lives of students.

“The goal is to provide effective career mentoring for students and young professionals,” Murphy says, “and to increase scholarship opportunities.” 

If you would like to be involved with the MLS Alumni Association, email Lacey Murphy at Lacey.Murphy@path.utah.edu, or connect with her on the Forever Utah Alumni Network.

IN THE LAB

Medical laboratory scientists perform manual and automated testing on body fluids, such as blood, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid, as well as on samples collected from wounds and other sites of infections. Results from these analyses are used in diagnosing, treating, and managing diseases. They also assist in maintaining healthy lifestyles. The high demand for trained laboratory professionals drives the specific design of the medical laboratory science (MLS) program at the University of Utah to prepare graduates for a career in this profession.

“The U genuinely wants students to be successful,” Murphy says. “From a student perspective, being at an R1-level university will provide them an array of academic and career opportunities. If they can get through the incredibly rigorous MLS program, they can get what they want out of their career.”

The goals of the program are to support the goals and mission of the University of Utah, meet the student’s requirements for education in the profession of medical laboratory science as defined by accreditation standards, and provide opportunities for the student to become aware of the medical team and its responsibility for delivery of quality health care.

As outcomes of curriculum effectiveness, the university’s undergraduate MLS program has a three-year average ASCP Board of Certification (BOC) pass rate of 96% when the exam was taken within one year of program completion. Over the past three years, all students who started the final half of the MLS Program successfully completed their course of study. Furthermore, within the same three-year period, 100% of students who finished the MLS program secured employment in the field or a closely related area.

“The medical laboratory science program is nothing short of exceptional. Every faculty member is passionate about their respective field, which makes it easy as students to become engaged in the classroom and teaching lab. The curriculum is challenging and requires dedication but is extremely rewarding. If you are pursuing medical school like myself, or any other further education in the medical sciences, then medical laboratory science is the perfect place to start.”

 —Mario Mario Reyes-Gutierrez (BS ’22)