Campus Connection

UWL clinical laboratory science major awarded national scholarship

UW-La Crosse senior Elizabeth Brzezinski is one of five students nationwide to receive a $2,000 scholarship from the American Proficiency Institute (API).

A Clinical Laboratory Science major, Brzezinski was drawn to the field of study where she can provide physicians information to diagnose, treat disease and more. She is currently in a nine-month internship as a medical lab student at Marshfield Labs in Marshfield, Wisconsin.

“I think it’s fascinating how much you can determine in a patient’s diagnosis just from a small sample,” she says. “This is a great career for anyone who enjoys hands-on science and wants to have a role in providing timely and accurate results to patients.”

After graduation Brzezinski aims to find a career working at a clinical lab in a rural hospital. “I think it is important to have well-trained and knowledgeable lab scientists in rural areas,” says Brzezinski, who anticipates graduating in spring 2020. “A key aspect of health care is being available to all those in need.”

Julie J. Seehafer, director of Laboratory Education at Marshfield Clinic Health System, notes that a rural facility would benefit from having Brzezinski on staff. She is “the type of young professional that is needed in the lab, today as a technologist, and in the future as a leader.”

Brzezinski was grateful to receive the award. “I think that it is awesome to recognize students for their hard work, and I was very honored to be one of the applicants selected for the award.”

For the 12th year in a row, API scholarships support students who drive the future of the clinical laboratory profession, says Daniel C. Edson, President of API. Student recipients are focused on the opportunities offered by the clinical laboratory field. “Many expressed a desire to lead by sharing knowledge, improving processes, and attracting others to the profession. With students like these, our future is in good hands," says Edson.

The American Proficiency Institute is one of the largest proficiency testing providers in the world, serving over 20,000 laboratories. API offers innovative solutions and technical excellence for the proficiency testing needs of hospital and reference laboratories, physician offices, clinics, and point-of-care testing sites.