Abigail Enloe
We sat down with Abigale Enloe - a student in UC's Medical Laboratory Sciences Program. She shared her experience and gave some advice for MLS's future bearcats.
Abigail Enloe, 4th year Medical Laboratory Student
What do you enjoy doing outside of class, schoolwork, and clinical?
When I’m not doing school or working in the lab, I love reading, baking, traveling, and doing art. I was involved in the Lab Cats organization during my senior year. It was a fun way to get to know some of my peers outside of the classroom setting!
Are you involved in any student organizations? What has your experience been in those organizations?
I was involved in the Lab Cats organization during my senior year. It was a fun way to get to know some of my peers outside of the classroom setting!
When did you know you wanted to pursue a career in this field?
It took a while for me to choose this field, mostly because I didn’t know about it when I started college. I attended another college for 2 years as a general allied health major with the intention of choosing a specialization once I had a better idea of the options. I had always been passionate about science and knew that helping people was a top priority for my career; although, I didn’t know where this would take me until an MLS in my family introduced me to the field. After doing some research, I felt like it was a great fit for me. My time in the MLS program here at UC has only affirmed that feeling.
What types of hands-on experiences have you been able to gain in the program?
As a requirement for the program, MLS students complete 12 weeks of clinical rotations where we spend time in labs gaining hands-on clinical experience. This was an excellent way to get a feel for the work and working environment, as well as apply the knowledge we learned in class to real-world situations.
We also spent many hours in the student labs performing laboratory procedures and tests to help prepare us for the clinical lab.
Personally, I was able to spend a week in Mexico providing point-of-care glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol testing to residents as a part of a UC CAHS service trip. This experience allowed me to have face-to-face interactions with patients while gaining valuable testing practice relevant to the field.
How have the opportunities at UC helped to shape your career goals or view of the profession?
After working through the program, I have a deeper respect for laboratory professionals, as well as for other health professionals who work closely with the lab. I have been able to form both inter- and interprofessional relationships that help me to better understand my role in the health field and how different scopes of practice are necessary for successful and effective healthcare.
My time under the leadership of the MLS program faculty has taught me so much valuable information and life skills that I will carry with me into my professional career.
Anything else you would say to a prospective student that is trying to find the right program for them?
When deciding on a future career, I think the most important thing is to consider your passions and talents. If you are motivated by something or have a specific skill that you are good at, then pursue that! Figure out what is important to you, and you will have a fulfilling career. For me, my passions and talents lie in science, problem-solving, and helping others, which made Medical Laboratory Science a great fit for me!