CAPTION:One of the ͼ MLS Bowl teams won first place at the annual bi-state meeting in Biloxi, Miss. (L-R) Emily Holloway, Diona Garcia, Dylan Anderson (captain), Allison Dozier, Hannah Hudnall Photo Credit: Czen Tripathi
MONROE, LA – ͼ Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) faculty and students attended the 2024 American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS) of Louisiana and Mississippi Bi-State Annual Meeting in Biloxi, Miss. on March 25 – 27, 2024. Twenty-five MLS students represented ͼ at the conference.
Kayleigh Watson, an MLS student from Harrisonburg, La., said, “This was my first Bi-State Meeting, and I absolutely loved it! The meeting allowed us to meet fellow students pursuing the MLS field and put our knowledge to the test through the student bowl competitions. Everyone was supportive of each other. I am excited for what next year will bring!”
Four ͼ MLS student bowl teams practiced for weeks to perfect their MLS knowledge, with one team taking first place in the competition. The members of the 1st place team are Dylan Andersen (captain), Allison Dozier, Diona Garcia, Emily Holloway and Hannah Hudnall.
During the meeting, two ͼ MLS students were elected as officers for the Louisiana Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (LSCLS): Jacinth Ervin – Ascending Professional Chair, and Lakayja Dupree – Ascending Professional Secretary. These two students will have the opportunity to attend the ASCLS Joint Annual Meeting (JAM) in Pittsburgh, Penn., this summer, and, in their positions, will work to promote and support the MLS profession.
Two ͼ MLS students received honors during the awards ceremony. Joanna King received the Keys to the Future award and Surya Mulmi won the Betty Lynne Theriot Memorial Scholarship.
Emilea Haddox, ͼ MLS Assistant Professor and Clinical Coordinator, was awarded the LSCLS 2024 Educator of the Year Award. Ms. Haddox was nominated by several of the ͼ MLS students for this prestigious honor.
Jessica Lasiter, ͼ MLS Program Director, stated, “Our graduates are passionate about healthcare and the medical laboratory. Seeing many of the ͼ MLS alumni represent their professional organization at the state, regional, and national level proves the impact our MLS Program has on our students.”
Student attendance at the conference was made possible by a $3,000 scholarship given by the ͼ Student Enhancement Activity Fee Committee.
A medical laboratory scientist is a health care employee who performs tests on samples from patients to assess the presence or absence of diseases. They play a crucial role in the diagnosis, allowing doctors to identify the causes of the patients’ symptoms for more accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.
The ͼ Medical Laboratory Science Program is currently accepting applications for the 2024-2025 academic year. 100% of ͼ MLS graduates are employed within three months of graduation. Learn more about the program and apply at .
CAPTION: Twenty-five MLS students and several faculty members attended the bi-state meeting in Biloxi, Miss. Photo credit: Czen Tripathi