Majors at the University of Connecticut
Cytotechnology
There are three majors that encompass the study of medical lab sciences at the University of Connecticut, and each one of these focuses on a specific area of concentration.
Diagnostic Genetic Science deals with the detection of human disease at the chromosomal level. The responsibility of a person in this field is to detect malformation and abnormalities in human chromosomes and use this information to diagnose diseases. The use of this information can help determine physical abnormalities in newborns, developmental problems in children, and can help to determine infertility in adults. Professionals in this field are also responsible for matching tissue and organ donors to recipients.
Medical Technologists are prepared to perform general medical laboratory procedures and routines, under the supervision of a physician or laboratory director. You will learn to deal with medical laboratory procedures, equipment operation and maintenance, equipment and sample inventorying and storage, laboratory safety procedures, and record-keeping. Generally, medical technologists are responsible for performing laboratory procedures to analyze, evaluate, and identify disease states.
Cytotechnology is a laboratory science that specializes in the field of cytology, which is the science of determining the early evidence of cancer cells in the body. A cytotechnologist uses the microscope to examine specimens from various body sites to distinguish abnormalities in cell structure that might be the first warning signs of cancer.
Academic Department
Nature of Work
Diagnostic Genetic Scientists, Medical Technologists, and Cytotechnologists work in hospitals, pharmacies, or laboratory settings. They deal with a lot of detail and work constantly under a microscope. These people indirectly help others with the utilization of their highly technical knowledge. These are great professions for those who wish to work in the medical profession behind the scenes. These professions perform procedures in the general area of the clinical laboratory or perform specialized procedures in areas such as cytology, histology, and microbiology. Their responsibilities may include supervising and organizing activities of workers engaged in laboratory testing.
Sample Job Titles
- Medical Technician
- Cytologist
- Genetic Scientist
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- Pharmaceutical Salesperson
- Clinical Laboratory Technician
- Crime Laboratory Analyst
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Potential Employers
There are several different places within the medical industry where individuals with a background in one of these medical lab sciences could find employment, the first and foremost being hospitals. Individuals with a medical lab science degree could also find themselves employed in pharmacies and laboratories, and are sometimes even working on their own, performing independent research.
Useful Skills
A person entering these fields should be interested in biology. One useful skill is the ability to work with detail, as working with a microscope encompasses the majority of the work. You must be able to use specific methods to solve problems by inspecting and evaluating the quality of products. You must know how to find critical information. Knowledge of the sciences are crucial along with some mathematical ability.
Getting Experience
For individuals majoring in one of the medical lab sciences, clinical experiences are essential in gaining the appropriate practical knowledge. The three different majors all have slightly different criteria in meeting the necessary goals, but all three place a major importance on this clinical experience.
Students in the Diagnostic Genetic Science program are expected to do a six-month clinical, which can be at an affiliation anywhere in the country.
The clinical affiliation for the Medical Technology program is at Hartford Hospital for a full calendar year.
The Cytotechnology program offers a clinical practicum for a full calendar year at the University of Connecticut Health Center and select affiliate hospitals.
Most of the experience is obtained through these clinicals and through coursework prior to graduation.
Employment Opportunities
Employment opportunities with these degrees are very good. There are plenty of jobs in these fields and not enough bodies to fill them, and the vacancy rates should increase. There is a very high rate of employment from these programs since there are many more job openings each year than there are qualified candidates to fill them. Starting salaries for these fields are between $30,000-$35,000 a year.
Internet Links
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