Laboratory Sciences investment strengthens rural healthcare across Alabama 

Medical laboratory scientists perform diagnostic tests that help physicians understand what is happening inside a patient’s body. They analyze blood, urine, spinal fluid, joint fluid and other specimens, providing the data physicians rely on to diagnose and treat patients. 

“You don’t make medical decisions without having the data to back it up,” said Doug Goodwin, professor and chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. “The students in our laboratory sciences program will go on to play a key role in shaping the future of healthcare.” 

The need for professionals trained in this field is especially significant in rural communities, where health care systems often face persistent workforce shortages. Nationally, there are an estimated 10,000 medical laboratory science positions available each year, compared with approximately 5,000 graduates entering the workforce. 

Auburn currently has 63 students in its laboratory sciences program and hopes to nearly double enrollment to 120 students within five years. 

The award will support an additional instructor, expansion and renovation of existing laboratory spaces and biosafety improvements needed to accommodate a growing program and pursue accreditation through the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). 

NAACLS accreditation would allow Auburn to provide the required instructional component of clinical laboratory science education on campus while expanding opportunities for students to complete clinical rotations throughout Alabama, including rural and underserved communities. 

Currently, Auburn students complete their coursework on campus before leaving for a 12-month clinical experience at an accredited site. Because Alabama has only a handful of NAACLS-accredited clinical sites, all located in urban areas, students have limited options for completing this portion of their education. 

With accreditation, Auburn could arrange clinical training at hospitals in every corner of the state, giving students valuable experience in communities where laboratory professionals are in high demand. Research from the National Association of Colleges and Employers indicates that 82.8% of interns accept positions at the sites where they complete their internships, creating the potential for graduates to build careers in communities where they train. 

“It really opens the doors,” Goodwin said. “The scale of what we’ll be able to do in terms of sending students to various locations around the state is basically wide open.” 

The program already has a strong record of preparing students for successful careers. Since 2021, 100% of Auburn’s medical laboratory science graduates have been employed in a related position within six months of graduation or accepted into a professional school. 

“This investment is an important step forward for the future of laboratory sciences at Auburn and the communities our graduates will serve,” said Edward Thomas, dean of the College of Sciences and Mathematics. “Growing this program will allow us to educate more highly skilled professionals who play an essential role in health care, expand opportunities for our students and help address a critical workforce need across Alabama.  This commitment is for our students, college and the health of our state.” 

The expansion also represents an opportunity to raise awareness of a program that has historically operated quietly within the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Medical laboratory science graduates have accounted for roughly one-third of the department’s graduates over the years, despite receiving relatively little visibility. 

With the new investment, Auburn hopes to grow the program, increase access to clinical training and help meet Alabama’s critical need for laboratory professionals strengthening a foundational part of quality healthcare — the ability to obtain accurate diagnostic information where and when patients need it.