History

The concept of training Clinical Laboratory Scientists (CLS) at Boyce & Bynum Pathology Laboratories (BBPL) originated in 2004 in an effort to address the shortage of qualified laboratory professionals. BBPL established a training alliance with the University of Nebraska Medical Center School of Allied Health Professions NAACLS accredited CLS Program (UNMC). The CLS Program became a core component of the BBPL education mission.

The strategic alliance of didactic curricula from UNMC and clinical training in Columbia, Missouri has been so successful that it has served as a model for other academic institutions. The CLS Program is a year long program beginning with student laboratory and CLS introductory coursework in Omaha, Nebraska. Following student laboratory training students return to Columbia to complete their clinical training and coursework. Clinical training utilizes the internet as well as textbooks and other printed material so that the students are able to efficiently blend classroom lectures and assignments with clinical training within each laboratory area. Video streaming, real-time and on-demand, provide course lectures to the students during their rotations through the clinical laboratory.Mastering core competencies, participating in group assignments and presentations, writing methods papers, and management classes are all part of the learning experience.

The first CLS class completed their clinical training in 2006. All 3 students enjoyed multiple employment opportunities and remained in Central Missouri. One of the students scored number two in the nation on the ASCP Board of Registry examination and graduated with Latin honors, and one student was inducted into Alpha Eta the National Honor Society for the Allied Health Professions.

Class size has increased since that time to a current enrollment of ten students. The vast majority of graduates have remained in the Central Missouri reqion, have garnered a wide variety of honors and scholarships and have continued to score significantly above national average on the ASCP Board of Registry examination.

The CLS graduates come from varied backgrounds and experiences - most have undergraduate degrees in the sciences and many have been employed by BBPL, as well as several Missouri hospitals. The one thing they all share- a desire to embark on a journey as a trained clinical laboratory professional. We encourage our hospital partners to recommend applicants, some of which may already be hospital employees, to the CLS Program, cultivating a long term relationship with them while filling crucial vacancies within the clinical laboratory.

The Bynum Medical Arts Institute is a not for profit corporation (501(c) 3 that promotes the educational mission by supporting and developing training programs for healthcare professionals at all levels.

The clinical training faculty consist of experienced laboratory professionals representing all areas of the clinical laboratory - Clinical Chemistry, Hematology, Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics; Immunohematology with our colleagues at Boone Hospital Center and the University of Missouri. All instructors must be approved by UNMC, meeting their NAACLS requirement of certified CLS. Clinical training in Columbia is overseen by Diana Inman, MT(AMT), Education Coordinator at BBPL. The educational mission is directed by William H. Thornton, PhD, MT(ASCP), Director of Laboratory Services at BBPL. Contact Diana Inman at 573-886-4600, or Dr. Thorton at 573-886-4600.