Sautter Rl, Halstead Dc
RL Sautter Consulting LLC, Lancaster, SC 29720.
Global Infectious Disease Consultants LLC, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250.
Lab Med. 2023 Sep 5;54(5):e121-e123. doi: 10.1093/labmed/lmac143.
Due to dwindling numbers of medical laboratory scientists (MLS), we are faced with staffing issues due to lack of visibility, recognition, low wages, and perceived lack of opportunities for upward career mobility. A brief survey of doctoral-level clinical microbiologists showed a significant number were certified, worked "the bench," and used this experience as a steppingstone to become a laboratory director or consultant.
To help dispel the notion working as an MLS is a dead-end job, the authors developed an expanded national survey.
The survey was sent to 815 board-certified microbiologists and chemists to determine their career path. Results indicated that of 243 respondents, 41.3% were MLS certified, 47.1% had worked "the bench," and 51.9% and 63.5% became laboratory or technical directors, respectively.
Survey results provide evidence to dispel the notion that MLS and bench working jobs lack upward career mobility and may inspire students for a career in laboratory medicine.
