Class of 2021: Hailey Westrick, M.S. in Clinical Laboratory Science

Laboratory Professionals Are “Members of a Mighty Team” Says Graduate and Teacher

A medical laboratory scientist working in various hospitals, Hailey Westrick discovered as she trained interns and associates that she also liked teaching.

When she decided to get an advanced degree, she learned that Rutgers School of Health Professions M.S. in Clinical Laboratory Science program offered both management and teaching options and saw it as an opportunity to explore different career paths. She decided to focus on education.

“This program encouraged my drive to become an educator in a lab science program,” said Westrick. “I began to complete elective courses focused on teaching and curriculum development that helped to build my knowledge in teaching and complemented what I was learning in required clinical laboratory science courses as well.”

In July, Westrick became program director of an MLS program at a Wisconsin hospital with the provision that she complete her graduate degree. She graduates in May, a member of the Class of 2021.

She said the COVID-19 crisis has brought clinical laboratory scientists from behind the scenes into the forefront of diagnosis and treatment.

“Medical laboratory scientists form a mighty team, crucial to patient care,” she said. “Teaching future medical laboratory scientists has always been extremely rewarding, but there is a special touch added knowing how greatly they are needed in the midst of the pandemic.”

Westrick has been able to put into practice some of the teaching strategies she developed for her master’s degree project. She created a course called Clinical Correlations that includes learning reflection journaling and interprofessional components.

“Clinical Correlations helps students realize the value of the profession as part of a healthcare team, which is a concept that holds high importance to me when educating laboratory students,” Westrick said.

– By Alessandra Izaguirre