UTEP Clinical Laboratory Sciences

Congrats to our CLS Miners! Way to go 🤩

CHS Miners, save the date! On September 23rd, UTEP will celebrate 915 Heroes Night with a special presentation during the Miner Football team game against UNLV. Come out to support the team and represent the UTEP College of Health Sciences! Scan the QR code to get your FREE student ticket. ⛏🏈

Welcome Class of 2024! 🥳

Happy Wednesday, CHS Miners! Check out the latest installment of our Meet Our Alums series, featuring Sylvia Mejia, a CLS Program graduate who now manages hospital blood banks in Arizona for HonorHealth. The entire story is available at utep.edu/chs.
Photo courtesy of Sylvia Mejia.
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Q: What sparked your interest in the Clinical Lab Sciences (CLS) Program at UTEP?

A: I wanted to be in health care, but I didn't want to be involved with direct patient care. In high school, I was in a Certified Nursing Assistant program, and I realized that direct patient care was not for me. As a college freshman, I struggled to find a major other than biology or chemistry, since I didn't know what the job outlook would be for those fields. In one of my classes, I met a girl who was very excited about the CLS Program, and that is how I learned about it. As soon as she said “laboratory,” I wanted to know more and worked on meeting the requirements to apply.

Q: Tell us about your current work. What are some of the skills you learned as a CLS student that you use daily?

A: I use blood banking concepts daily. The immunohematology courses in the CLS Program established the foundation that I built upon further. If it wasn’t for the CLS Program, I would not have pursued my SBB. I am a Technical Specialist of Transfusion Services for HonorHealth in Phoenix. I work alongside two other technical specialists, and we have oversight of six hospitals – three of those are Level 1 Trauma Centers. Every day is different, with various tasks, from writing guidelines and ensuring compliance, to implementing new software, providing technical help to the blood bank technologists, and focusing on process improvement – the list is exciting and endless!

Q: What would you tell a prospective student who is interested in clinical laboratory sciences?

A: Do you want to be in the healthcare field? Do you want to be part of lifesaving missions? Do you not want to be directly involved with patient care? If so, then the CLS Program is for you. The best part is that there is a demand for MLS/MLTs, and you are guaranteed a job after graduation. UTEP Clinical Laboratory Sciences

Happy Hump Day, CHS Miners! 🙌⛏ To brighten up your mid-week, we're sharing a recent selfie of our fantastic Clinical Laboratory Science students, who kept smiling through their hard work at the HOPE Clinic. Each year, CLS students volunteer to participate in the event, which offers free health screenings and referral services for vulnerable El Pasoans living at the Opportunity Center for the Homeless. Picks up for our CLS crew!

Manuel Almaraz is a first-generation college student who overcame many challenges to graduate from UTEP with a 3.91 GPA. Before the pandemic, Manuel crossed from Ciudad Juárez at 5:30 every morning to be in class by 8 a.m. During the pandemic, he moved to El Paso and was separated from his family.

As an undergraduate student in the clinical laboratory science program, Manuel conducted research that helped him gain hands-on training in molecular diagnostic methodologies. Outside the classroom, he worked as a contact tracer for the Texas Department of State Health Services and helped the School of Pharmacy prepare COVID-19 vaccine doses at the UTEP vaccination clinic.

After graduation, he plans to take the the ASCP Board of Certification exam and become a certified medical laboratory scientist, and work in a laboratory to gain professional experience.

Congratulations to Manuel, and picks up to all the graduates! ⛏🎓

This week is National Medical Laboratory Professionals week! Help your fellow students in the Clinical Laboratory Science Program know how much you appreciate their hard work. Our CLS students and faculty have worked hard this past year as the frontline professionals working to vaccinate UTEP faculty, students and staff in the COVID-19 vaccine clinics. They've also joined other health professionals in UTEP's contact tracer initiative and in managing data for El Paso's Department of Public Health.

Go CLS Miners! You make us proud.

Happy Monday, CHS Miners! 🤙 Take a look at the below story featuring Meena Aldouri, alum of the UTEP Clinical Laboratory Sciences program who now works as a crime scene investigator!

Q: What sparked your interest in the Clinical Laboratory Science (CLS) Program at UTEP?

A: I became interested in the Clinical Lab Science (CLS) Program after meeting with my guidance counselor. We discussed my goals in working in forensics, and she mentioned that the CLS program would be very beneficial for the transition into that field. Afterwards, I asked her to change my major to CLS.

Q: Tell us about the most interesting experience you had as a CLS student.

A: One of my favorite and most interesting experiences was being a part of a civilian tour at the Fort Bliss Army Base. I was able to learn about what our men and women in the military do daily and out in the field. I went to William Beaumont Army Medical Hospital to see how their clinical lab was set up and observed all the procedures they could perform. I learned so much more about the clinical lab sciences and how it applied in a hospital setting, as well as how it can be a great tool out in the field.

Q: Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree in forensics? How did your CLS degree prepare you for that transition?

A: My goal for what seemed like my whole life was to work in the forensics field. I first became interested in the field of forensics from all the shows on TV, including Unsolved Mysteries, CSI and CSI New York, Criminal Minds, and NCIS. I was so intrigued with the field of forensics and all the different ways an investigation could be solved. Working as a crime scene investigator was my dream since I was in middle school, and I worked so hard to get to where I am today. I got my CLS degree because it allowed me to learn lab protocols and procedures, as well as various techniques that can very easily be transitioned into a crime lab setting. Often, some of the same equipment and instruments are used but for different purposes.

Q: Tell us about your current work as a crime scene investigator. What are some of the skills you use on a daily basis that you incorporate into your work?

A: As a crime scene investigator, I have many roles and responsibilities. My main duty is to gather information and data and perform professional crime scene analysis that may involve any or all the following activities: receiving initial call notifying Crime Scene of an incident, initiating investigations, and photographing and processing a scene. This can include fi****ms analysis and trajectory, blood spatter analysis, and processing the scene for fingerprints. I also document, collect, and process physical evidence. In current times and given all the technology, we also collect and analyze digital and video evidence.

In these investigations, I work in cooperation with the patrol deputies and officers, detectives, and the medical examiner investigators if they are called to a scene. Evidence that is collected is sent to the crime lab, where it is analyzed by a specific specialty, for example, the DNA lab or the fi****ms lab.

As a crime scene investigator, I sometimes perform presumptive testing in the field or back in the evidence work room, where it is later submitted to the crime lab for more testing.

I work a variety of crime scenes, including accident hit and runs, fatality accidents, fraud cases, death investigations (suspicious deaths, suicides, and homicides), burglary and theft reports, domestic and assault cases, sexual assaults, and many other assignments. I also assist other agencies that need crime scene analysis or fingerprint analysis performed for their cases.

I have gained knowledge and experience through my education and job. I am a Board-Certified Crime Scene Investigator through the International Association for Identification. I am also a Certified AFIS Latent Examiner.

With my education and experience, I have learned to be meticulous, organized, and very observant, which are great qualities to have in crime scene investigations. These are also great qualities to have in a clinical lab setting.

Q: What would you tell a prospective student who is interested in clinical laboratory sciences?

A: The clinical laboratory science degree is an excellent and versatile degree that can lead them down a variety of avenues. This may include continuing education in the same field or in a more specialized science. It can lead them into working in a hospital or private clinical or research lab, becoming an EMT or paramedic, or even working in a crime lab and becoming a crime scene investigator.

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For more information about the Clinical Laboratory Science Program, please visit: www.utep.edu/chs/cls.

Paid Volunteer Opportunity for COVID-19 Study

A group of researchers at The University of Texas at El Paso, led by Dr. Alvaro Gurovich, the program director of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program, is performing research to understand the recovery of patients with COVID-19.

The purpose of the study is to determine the effects of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in vascular function, inflammation, and mental health. This way, they will understand how COVID-19 affects the cardiovascular health and start developing treatment strategies for COVID-19 survivors.

Dr. Gurovich’s team is recruiting participants who were diagnosed with COVID-19 and hospitalized, but are now discharged from the hospital. If you think you qualify for the study, you will be asked to go to UTEP one time for several behavioral and physical tests, including but not limited to, blood draw via an IV catheter, answering some questionnaires, and laying down on an examination table while Dr. Gurovich performs some non-invasive tests on your arms and legs. They expect the visit not being longer than 2 hours. You will be compensated with a $50 gift card if you participate.
If you think you qualify for the study and would like to have more information, please contact Dr. Gurovich at 915-747-7248 or [email protected].

Happy Monday, CHS Miners! 🤙 Check out the latest story in our Meet our Students series, featuring Celida Sanchez, UTEP Clinical Laboratory Sciences major.

Q: Are you a first-generation college student? If so, please share with us why you were inspired to go to college and why you picked UTEP.

A: I am not a first-generation college student. However, I am the first in my family to pursue a degree in a medical field. I was inspired to pursue a college degree by my mother, who always taught me the importance of working hard to achieve my dreams and being independent. I chose to attend UTEP because of the affordable tuition; I had to pay out of pocket for a few years. Since I was able to also live at home with my mom and not have to pay for housing, this was more doable. One of my favorite things about this campus is the diversity it has and the great variety of degrees it provides for students.

Q: What sparked your interest in the Clinical Laboratory Science Program?

A: When I was 18 years old, I took a medical microbiology and pathology course, which sparked my interest in this field. I remember looking at parasites under the microscope and just being so amazed. Being able to save lives and care for other people is something that I know I was meant to do. Completing the laboratory work behind the diagnoses of diseases is the highlight of this career. I get to learn about the body in a microscopic way, and it is truly remarkable. One of the best things about this program is that there are high rates of employment, which was my ultimate goal. I wanted to find a career that I was passionate about and that made me look forward to going to work.

Q: What has been your greatest challenge academically so far, and what did you do to overcome it?

A: Learning how to manage time was probably my biggest challenge. As mentioned before, I was working many hours while remaining a full-time student. Sometimes, I would go to work, leave to attend class, and then go back to work. Then, I’d go back home and complete assignments and study for my courses. When I began the program, I knew I wanted to dedicate all my time and effort to it in order to succeed. My first semester in the program was overwhelming. I had to adjust to the amount of material presented, studying, and having time for myself and my family.

I was very fortunate to get help from my professors in learning how to manage my time. I began making to-do lists, calculating a certain number of hours for each course, and waking up early but also sleeping early in order to get good rest. This was my secret to success in this program.

Q: What has been the most interesting experience you have had in the CLS Program?

A: There are many memorable moments I have had in this program, like the first time I ever had to perform a phlebotomy. As a child, I was so terrified of needles. When I first heard I was going to have to perform a phlebotomy myself, I could not believe it. I did not know how to prepare for it mentally. Then, I did it for the first time and was left speechless, like wow, I really just did that! Or the time when I first got to see red blood cells and white bloods cells under a microscope. It was one of the most amazing things to see, but I may sound biased because hematology is my favorite subject. Even now, when I look at my electrophoresis gels and they turn out well, I still amaze myself.

I am currently doing my clinical rotations; I have been to two hospitals thus far, and I have never loved my career more. One of the highlights of my rotations was that I actually got to shadow my preceptors and the pathologist on two bone-marrow procedures. In both rotations, I was asked to consider applying, pending graduation! Moments like those help you realize that all the tears, sweat, and time put into this degree is worth it.

Q: Please share what you have learned in your clinical internship experience that you feel has prepared you for your future career.

A: There are many life lessons I have learned in my clinical internship that are helping to shape me into the best professional I can be. The first is the importance of always being willing to do more. Being willing to do more allows you to learn more. We all have our set responsibilities, but it’s important to not limit ourselves and to always offer help, and in the end, it helps you gain more knowledge and experience. Another is to remain calm. At times, things can get hectic while working in the field. The best advice I was given was to always remain calm because panic can lead to errors. Lastly, be open to constructive criticism. If you are not open to understanding what is being done wrong, you will never get better.

Q: What advice would you give to a student thinking about studying clinical laboratory science?

A: This program is challenging. It requires time and dedication and, most importantly, passion. The passion the professors have for their careers is what motivated me to succeed in this program. Never be afraid to ask questions or make mistakes because you learn from them. At times, it may be overwhelming, but it’s important to try your best to not overstress. If you need to, step away from the study material, then take a deep breath and continue. Most importantly, learn how to manage your time. It is the ultimate secret to succeeding in this career. You will be so amazed when you realize the potential that you never knew existed in you.

Go Miners!

For more information about the Clinical Laboratory Science Program, please visit: www.utep.edu/chs/cls/.

Photo courtesy of Celida Sanchez

Happy Wednesday, CHS Miners! We encourage you to take the to help fight the rising COVID-19 cases in El Paso. Do it for your friends, family and community! Miners Take Care of Miners!

CLS Program Celebrates Five Years of 100 Percent Placement Rates

With a recent offer from a local agency a mere two months into her clinical internship, Celida Sanchez, a senior in the Clinical Laboratory Sciences (CLS) Program, is just one example of several CLS students in the past few years that have been recruited prior to their graduation. Sanchez, a senior and vice-president of the CLS student organization, is still deliberating her decision and says that she was initially shocked at being asked so early in her clinical rotations.

“I was with my preceptor and he told me that there were several positions open. Then, he asked me if I was interested,” said Sanchez. “At first, I didn’t believe him, but he told me that he thought I was very good at my job, and he was going to see how this could work, since I’m still a student. I had so many emotions running through my head. I felt very accomplished and thought that this was too good of an opportunity to pass up, but at the same time, I didn’t want to jeopardize my standing in the program.”

CLS Program Director Dr. Lori Torres cites Sanchez’s story and others as a testament to the dire need in the community for trained clinical laboratory professionals.

“We are the only program within about a 300-mile radius training bachelors-level prepared professionals in the discipline. Our graduates are hired almost immediately,” said Torres.

Indeed, over the past five years, 100% of the program’s graduates have been placed, either through paid positions with regional healthcare or nonprofit agencies, or into graduate education. The majority of CLS graduates can be found at the city’s major hospitals, including Del Sol Medical Center, El Paso Children’s Hospital, the Hospitals of Providence (Sierra, Providence Memorial, and Providence East and Transmountain campuses), Las Palmas, and University Medical Center, as well as Memorial Medical Center and MountainView Medical Center in Las Cruces. Others have taken positions outside of the region, including at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona and Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Several other alums are currently in medical school.

The program boasts an equally impressive graduation rate record – 100% in 2016, 2019 and 2020. The graduation rates for 2017 and 2018 were 95% and 96%, respectively. The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) requires that the program provide these rates for the second half of the program. In the case of the UTEP CLS Program, that means the senior year for all students.

Torres indicated that partnership with clinical affiliates was key to the program’s low attrition and high graduation rates.

“Not only does the UTEP CLS Program take care of its students, but the clinical affiliates do such an outstanding job of educating the students on medical diagnostics and what it takes to be a super hero in the medical laboratory field,” she said.

Go Miners!

For more information about the CLS Program, please visit: www.utep.edu/cls/

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The UTEP CLS Program is accredited by the NAACLS:

NAACLS 5600 N. River Rd, Suite 720

Rosemont IL 60018-5119;

ph: 773.714.8880; fx: 773.714.8886;

[email protected]

UPDATED - Happy Wednesday, CHS Miners! Dean Shafik Dharamsi will be providing the keynote lecture for Duquesne University's Global Public Health speaker series tomorrow, Oct. 8th, beginning at 10 a.m. MST.

RSVP by today at duq.edu/global-public-health-speaker-2020 to receive a Zoom link to attend.

Happy Thursday, CHS Miners! The UTEP Student Leadership and Engagement Center is hosting a free screening of "Boys State" on Tuesday, September 29th at 3 p.m. To receive the virtual link, register on Campus Edge by Monday, September 28 before 3PM here: https://campusedge.utep.edu/component/rseventspro/event/6472-boys-state-free-virtual-screening?Itemid=471

Boys State Trailer: https://youtu.be/E1Kh_T5ZBIM

About the film
The sensational winner of the Grand Jury Prize for documentary at this year's Sundance Film Festival is a wildly entertaining and continually revealing immersion into a week-long annual program in which a thousand Texas high school seniors gather for an elaborate mock exercise: building their own state government. Filmmakers Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine closely track the escalating tensions that arise within a particularly riveting gubernatorial race, training their cameras on unforgettable teenagers like Ben, a Reagan-loving arch-conservative who brims with confidence despite personal setbacks, and Steven, a progressive-minded child of Mexican immigrants who stands by his convictions amidst the sea of red. In the process, they have created a complex portrait of contemporary American masculinity, as well as a microcosm of our often dispiriting national political divisions that nevertheless manages to plant seeds of hope. An Apple and A24 release.

Happy Thursday, CHS Miners! Check out the infographic and take advantage of free COVID-19 testing at UTEP. Miners Keep Miners Safe! 🤙

Save the Date! Thursday, Sep. 24, 4 to 6 p.m. Virtual networking mixer, Research Innovations in Response to COVID-19. Registration link: https://ttuhscep.webex.com/mw3300/mywebex/default.do?nomenu=true&siteurl=ttuhscep&service=6&rnd=0.49973903325623825&main_url=https%3A%2F%2Fttuhscep.webex.com%2Fec3300%2Feventcenter%2Fevent%2FeventAction.do%3FtheAction%3Ddetail%26%26%26EMK%3D4832534b000000041321c5f7424e4565abcebc4d4bab56f098571288481326277ba60adc293cde2d%26siteurl%3Dttuhscep%26confViewID%3D172581330755791379%26encryptTicket%3DSDJTSwAAAATE31eDKvkrtYxNiK5Nc382dCiDFJUmY3fieKSUnB_idw2%26

It’s International #YouthDay!⠀ ⠀ WHO calls on youth around the 🌎🌍🌏 to take lead, take action and fight the #COVID19 pandemic for a better future.⠀ ⠀ Swipe 👉 for more actions that you can take to help end COVID-19!

Happy Friday, CHS Miners. Are you confused by the fall schedule? If so, check out this guide at:https://www.utep.edu/student-affairs/registrar/_Internal/_Blocks/Schedule-Guide.pdf

Happy Friday CHS Miners! Confused by the fall schedule? Check out the information guide at https://www.utep.edu/student-affairs/registrar/_Internal/_Blocks/Schedule-Guide.pdf

Check out the CLS Class of 2021 celebrating the last day of labs for the summer session with a Tik Tok!

Celi Sanchez on TikTok

UTEP CHS Miners - Stay Safe and Follow CDC Guidelines!

Social distancing is one of the best tools to avoid being exposed to #COVID19. To help slow the spread of the virus, keep these key times in mind for when to use social distancing: • Inside your home if someone is sick • Outside your home when around people who are not in your household • If you are at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 If maintaining social distancing will be difficult, wear a cloth face covering when around others, including when you must go out in public. Learn more: https://bit.ly/COVID-SocialDistance #CDC #PublicHealth

There are certain places where COVID-19 spreads more easily and we should avoid these areas.

CHS Student Scholarships Available - Deadline Extended to June 30, 2020

Text Version:

Did you know there are scholarships specifically for CHS students? Apply now – deadline extended to June 30!

If you are interested in applying for these scholarships, please complete the UTEP online scholarship application at https://utep.awardspring.com/ by June 30, 2020.

The questionnaire portion of the application will take you 5-10 minutes to complete. In addition, there is one essay question. Your answer to this question should tell us about you and your educational goals and plans. We suggest that you draft this essay in a WORD document and then copy and paste the final version into the online application.

If you have any questions, please email the Office of Scholarships at [email protected] or by phone at (915) 747-5204 and ask to speak with a scholarship representative.

KVIA Features Social-Distancing Version of White Coat Ceremony for 2020 CLS Graduates

20 UTEP graduates receive white coats during parking lot ceremony EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The white coat ceremony is a rite of passage for UTEP’s Clinical Laboratory Sciences graduates, it marks the formal beginning of their professional healthcare ca…

Stay safe Class of 2020 and have a wonderful, celebratory weekend.

Meanwhile, here's a peek at some faculty members who donned their regalia for you and took selfies in your honor.

We can't wait to celebrate with you again this fall!