Volume 40 Number 1 | February 2026
Summary
This article highlights how medical laboratory professionals extend their impact beyond the lab through community engagement and interprofessional collaboration. By working in pro-bono clinics and educational settings, they enhance patient care, improve specimen quality, foster mutual understanding, and strengthen connections between laboratory scientists, clinicians, students, and the communities they serve.
Emmanuel M. Nyangau, MSHS, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Today Volunteer Contributor
Clinical laboratory science (CLS) is not a hidden profession but a profession in action within community space, patient space, and clinicians’ space: present and active impacting care, care receivers, caregivers, and community.
Medical laboratory professionals exist in a quiet space and go unnoticed and yet contribute greatly to overall experience. Unfortunately, we lack recognition, connection, and impact within the healthcare setting and care receivers at large. To have an impact as a professional requires having a space where our knowledge, expertise, and presence are felt. This is made possible by being incorporated within the community level and within an interprofessional space of pro-bono clinics by the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB).
“‘In our quiet space, we turn uncertainty into clarity so providers can turn worry into healing.’”
This unique space and opportunity to help impact patient care and care professionals is through the courtesy of UTMB community engagement and leadership. In this space the medical laboratory professional exists at the forefront of care and within the major healthcare professions by working together in advancing care. We, medical laboratory professionals, talk about what our impact is. Even better, it is also great to hear, know, and understand how our profession impacts all from the voice of our colleagues within the community level.
Faculty/Medical Provider
Experience from N. Miles Farr MD, MPH, Associate Dean, Community Engagement and Education, Medical Director, St. Vincent’s Hope Clinics, Associate Program Director, IM Residency Program, University of Texas Distinguished Teaching Professor
“Clinical lab science (CLS) professionals being part of the on-site interprofessional clinical team has proved invaluable on multiple levels. The in-person interaction brings light to the shared humanity and work that is often unseen by the other. What happens between the patient, blood draw, and the labs plus results showing up in the electronic medical record is illuminated not just by knowledge but the professional that understands the science and makes it all happen. Bringing their expertise to the clinic and teaching learners about lab science while interacting with other care providers and patients brings a dynamic and rewarding environment. The CLS professionals also get to connect their work to the front-line clinicians and patients that they have trained and worked so hard to ensure they provide key medical information. It is mutually rewarding and increases the connection, understanding, and empathy for the other. The paradigm shifts from transactional to one that is relational and an assumption of positive intent. As a leader of our clinic, I am so grateful for the CLS team’s presence and the value they bring on so many levels to our team and the future generations of providers they are touching through their knowledge, skills, and professionalism.”
Medical Assistant
Experience from Annika Pearson, MA
“The laboratory team has made a great impact on me as a medical assistant. I feel incredibly supported when our lab team is there to help us during Grace Clinic, and I am grateful for everything they have taught me to improve my own skills. Grace Clinic is incredibly busy, and it is nice to have a dedicated team in my corner to help me to best assist our patients.”
MLS Students
Experience from Sheridan Allen, MLS(ASCP), St. Vincents Student CLS Co-Director, and Graduate Student School of Health Professions
Sheridan, who is part of the interprofessional student leadership at a pro-bono clinic, has committed countless hours to provide laboratory services and share knowledge to all. Her impact is best captured as follows: “Volunteering as a phlebotomy and specimen collector while being a laboratorian in training has significantly broadened my understanding of the critical role that clear communication, thorough instruction, and a well-founded rationale play in specimen collection procedures. Through leading workshops, I have had the opportunity to educate not only laboratorians but also nursing and medical students on how proper specimen collection is essential for accurate patient results, timely diagnoses, and efficient diagnostic turnaround. I have witnessed firsthand the positive impact this knowledge has had, enhancing satisfaction for patients, healthcare providers, and laboratorians alike.”
Experience from Lihn, Senior CLS Student
She is part of this team that extends care and expertise in the interprofessional pro-bono clinic. Lihn writes, “While diagnosing is not our role, we understand the urgency and the patient’s situation behind every lab value. In our quiet space, we turn uncertainty into clarity so providers can turn worry into healing.” In continual interaction with providers, Lihn clearly states our essence within patient care. This allows fellow students within the community engagement space to understand our profession and role. In the same space, she and other clinical lab students have an impact on future colleagues through guiding, educational workshops, and sharing valuable medical laboratory insight to collection plus testing. I have also witnessed firsthand CLS students in action organizing and leading sample collection workshops on campus.
Educator
In this space there is proximity to the frontline of patient care and assisting with establishing an environment of care with minimal laboratory issues. This space has assisted the interprofessional medical team through having fewer test cancellations, assisting students in understanding and having appreciation for the work of the laboratory professional. My work revolves around the preanalytical phase. By extending the classroom and bridging the gap with practice, I have been permitted to work with nursing and medical students to help them understand the lab. I have participated in clarifying our role. We discuss what is acceptable practice, then apply and understand acceptable test orders, sample collection, as well as error reduction. We review proper techniques for specimen collection like the order of blood draw and why it’s important. Also, specimen processing, storage and transportation of samples and why it is necessary to adhere to it. In practicality, they get to watch and participate in the same practice.
I am humbled to help share our expert knowledge, experience, and insight to improve test result outcomes on a regular basis, which is shared in an environment that allows learning outside of classroom, interaction with lab team members and preparing for future practice. It is wonderful to hear and learn what a role, impact, and contribution the medical laboratory professional is having when we are working within interprofessional space towards our colleagues and their work.
Emmanuel M. Nyangau is Assistant Professor at University of Texas Medical Branch Health Galveston in Galveston, Texas.