anyone a medical lab scientist/medical technologist?

[pinay58]

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just wanted to know if anyone working as a medical technologist is currently applying or has been accepted to med school

 

[IntheClouds4ever]

Yes.

 

[CaffeineTwitch]

Yes.

Yep.

 

[TrippingBillies41]

this is my plan, hopefully applying 2017

 

[CaffeineTwitch]

Was there a question you wanted answered?

 

[TrippingBillies41]

Basically will adcoms value all of my clinical experience in hospitals and on the road as an emt (5 years fulltime) over my lack of volunteer or ECs done during undergrad? I really do not have time with work and post bacc to volunteer as much as it seems most applicants.

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[IntheClouds4ever]

Basically will adcoms value all of my clinical experience in hospitals and on the road as an emt (5 years fulltime) over my lack of volunteer or ECs done during undergrad? I really do not have time with work and post bacc to volunteer as much as it seems most applicants.

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They will only value it if you can ariculate what you learned from the experience and how it has driven your desire to become a physician.

 

[CaffeineTwitch]

I am a Med tech , husband , father, and student. If you volunteer just 2 hours a week for a year you will have ~100 hours. I think work will be fine for ECs but I think it is hard to justify not volunteering at all.

 

[TrippingBillies41]

Ok thanks guys!

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[becomingdoctor]

My former coworker is a CLS, she is in DO school now. Btw, don't expect your lab science job bring too much weight to your app, it's just another paid technical job, not even clinical.


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[IntheClouds4ever]

My former coworker is a CLS, she is in DO school now. Btw, don't expect your lab science job bring too much weight to your app, it's just another paid technical job, not even clinical.


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completely disagree, but we did our own phlebotomy, ABGs, and code blues. Plenty of clinical experience that generated a lot of discussion and interest in interviews. However, if you let the adcom think you just sit at an analyzer, it wont be of any help.

 

[CaffeineTwitch]

My former coworker is a CLS, she is in DO school now. Btw, don't expect your lab science job bring too much weight to your app, it's just another paid technical job, not even clinical.


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Also completely disagree. My interviewer made a big deal out of the usefulness of my lab experience and knowledge. Some lab techs do much more than sit at a computer and call criticals.😉

 

[IntheClouds4ever]

Also completely disagree. My interviewer made a big deal out of the usefulness of my lab experience and knowledge. Some lab techs do much more than sit at a computer and call criticals.😉

Interview literally started like this..

"So you have microbiology experience? Are you the one I'm always calling for MICs in the morning so I can get patients discharged?"

"Yeah! And you are the one I always have to explain that our walkaways have a 24hour ID hold on organisms for the vanc. susceptibility. I try to get them out ASAP, but my hands are tied at that point"

Both statements were said in jest, but laughter and an acceptance followed that convo.. The knowledge was/is extremely beneficial and it was reiterated during the application cycle

 

[Ho0v-man]

I'm an X-ray/CT tech. I have to follow imaging protocols, interpret lab values to clear for contrast, recognize pertinent pathology and report it before it gets read by the radiologist. (Tell the ER when someone needs a chest tube, head bleeds, csp fx, etc). I also have to start IVs whenever anesthesia can't get it and put in midlines and picc lines under ultrasound. I use physical exam findings and laboratory results to figure out what should be in the differential and adjust the protocol to definitively rule out/confirm the diagnosis. I also assist in interventional procedures and run the c-arm in surgery.

NO ONE CARES!

I had some pretty weak ECs for a med school applicant because I was doing all of that 50-70 hrs/ week. While this was a good talking point during my interviews, there are a lot of schools that wouldn't look at my app because I didn't have enough volunteer experiences.

Unless you're a PA/NP, don't expect a healthcare related job to be the wow factor of your application.


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[dapdrow]

My former coworker is a CLS, she is in DO school now. Btw, don't expect your lab science job bring too much weight to your app, it's just another paid technical job, not even clinical.


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A clinical laboratory scientist isn't clinical?

What am I doing finding parasites and blasts in a smear?
Why am I wasting my time finding antigen negative units so I don't kill a patient?
Why are some involved in point of care testing?

 

[IntheClouds4ever]

I'm an X-ray/CT tech. I have to follow imaging protocols, interpret lab values to clear for contrast, recognize pertinent pathology and report it before it gets read by the radiologist. (Tell the ER when someone needs a chest tube, head bleeds, csp fx, etc). I also have to start IVs whenever anesthesia can't get it and put in midlines and picc lines under ultrasound. I use physical exam findings and laboratory results to figure out what should be in the differential and adjust the protocol to definitively rule out/confirm the diagnosis. I also assist in interventional procedures and run the c-arm in surgery.

NO ONE CARES!

I had some pretty weak ECs for a med school applicant because I was doing all of that 50-70 hrs/ week. While this was a good talking point during my interviews, there are a lot of schools that wouldn't look at my app because I didn't have enough volunteer experiences.

Unless you're a PA/NP, don't expect a healthcare related job to be the wow factor of your application.


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Once again, I completely disagree. You interpret two tests results.. BUN and Creat. to make sure the kidneys can clear the contrast. But you are still missing the depth of knowledge that is required. A common interview question at my desired school was "name 5 drugs and what they do" After the opening introductions, we dove into my microbiology experience. In the first 5 minutes, we had already discussed 6-7 antibiotics, resistant microbes, etc.. Having a lot of experience at HIV clinic (performing their testing and blood draws) we discussed the medications and personal interactions and went tangential on the topic of mental health. The local hospital recently started a psych unit. This greatly increased the number of TDMs we see in our laboratory. I was able to draw upon knowledge of these drugs and mood stabilizers during the interview as well. I was never directly asked a true question during the interview, but that is due to the content of our conversation. There was enough information/clinical experience to draw upon to fill a solid 45 minute conversation without any awkward silence. My stats, letters, mcat never came up; it was all directly related to my experiences. Again, if you just tell the what you "do" at the hospital, it will sound like a limited role (most are by design). If you can somehow display/articulate what you "know" or what is required knowledge to perform your duties, you'll be much better off.. As a X-ray/CT tech, you could easily start talking about new infrared technology for vein finders, new innovations in PET/MRI/nuclear medicine, or anything to show you have an interest an desire to keep learning and progressing beyond your "role" at the hospital. I said how I enjoyed gen lab for a few years until it become monotonous as far as using my knowledge and laboratory automation made it even worse, so I moved to microbiology to learn something new. I stated that I liked micro and I know that I am helping people in my community but that I felt capable of doing more with the knowledge I had acquired over the last few years if I had proper training/education at their university. Be humble in your role, but confident in your knowledge. Thats the simplest way I can think to say it.

 

[Ho0v-man]

Once again, I completely disagree. You interpret two tests results.. BUN and Creat. to make sure the kidneys can clear the contrast. But you are still missing the depth of knowledge that is required. A common interview question at my desired school was "name 5 drugs and what they do" After the opening introductions, we dove into my microbiology experience. In the first 5 minutes, we had already discussed 6-7 antibiotics, resistant microbes, etc.. Having a lot of experience at HIV clinic (performing their testing and blood draws) we discussed the medications and personal interactions and went tangential on the topic of mental health. The local hospital recently started a psych unit. This greatly increased the number of TDMs we see in our laboratory. I was able to draw upon knowledge of these drugs and mood stabilizers during the interview as well. I was never directly asked a true question during the interview, but that is due to the content of our conversation. There was enough information/clinical experience to draw upon to fill a solid 45 minute conversation without any awkward silence. My stats, letters, mcat never came up; it was all directly related to my experiences. Again, if you just tell the what you "do" at the hospital, it will sound like a limited role (most are by design). If you can somehow display/articulate what you "know" or what is required knowledge to perform your duties, you'll be much better off.. As a X-ray/CT tech, you could easily start talking about new infrared technology for vein finders, new innovations in PET/MRI/nuclear medicine, or anything to show you have an interest an desire to keep learning and progressing beyond your "role" at the hospital. I said how I enjoyed gen lab for a few years until it become monotonous as far as using my knowledge and laboratory automation made it even worse, so I moved to microbiology to learn something new. I stated that I liked micro and I know that I am helping people in my community but that I felt capable of doing more with the knowledge I had acquired over the last few years if I had proper training/education at their university. Be humble in your role, but confident in your knowledge. Thats the simplest way I can think to say it.

Believe it or not, I actually do understand how complex my job is and I use a lot more than BUN and creatinine. My point to the OP, is that a lot of interviewers take for granted the contributions of ancillary staff. Definitely make the most of it as you said. I'd just be surprised if it took you very far.