$50 million anonymous donation to cover tuition for medical laboratory students at UW

An anonymous benefactor has contributed approximately $50 million to fully fund the senior-year clinical rotations for all undergraduates in the Medical Laboratory Science Program at the University of Washington.

"We are incredibly thankful to this donor, whose extraordinary support enables both this initiative and the expansion of our program," stated Dr. Geoffrey S. Baird, professor and chair of the UW School of Medicine department.

Graduates of medical laboratory science programs perform diagnostic tests in hospitals, clinics, and public health facilities, engage in research in both academic and commercial labs, and teach at higher education institutions.

The donation will also allow UW Medicine to increase program enrollment to 100 students within the next decade. Currently, 70 students are enrolled, with 35 already participating in their senior-year clinical rotations.

"I was initially stunned, and it took a moment to realize they would cover our tuition. Afterwards, I felt immense relief," shared Jasmine Wertz, a senior student. "Our rotations demand 40 hours per week, and balancing studying with work is incredibly challenging."

According to the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science, the United States conducts over 4 billion medical laboratory tests annually. Washington state and the broader WWAMI region (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, Idaho) are experiencing a shortage of medical laboratory professionals, with demand continuing to rise. Currently, only two programs in the state offer bachelors degrees in medical laboratory science.

Author: Aiden Foster