Siemens and ASCP award 153 scholarships to medical laboratory students in 2015

05/21/2015

· Agreement with Blue Earth Diagnostics Ltd. grants U.S. rights for clinical trial supply and for exclusive commercial manufacturing and distribution of PET imaging agent upon FDA approval

Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics and the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) have awarded a combined $155,000 in scholarships to the nation’s top undergraduate and graduate medical laboratory students for the 2014 – 2015 academic year [> see Winners]. Since 2003, more than $1.6 million in scholarships have been awarded through the Siemens–ASCP Scholarship Program to students pursuing bachelor’s or master’s degrees in medical laboratory science or other areas of laboratory medicine.

The Siemens–ASCP Scholarship Program was established to address the nation’s shortage of qualified medical laboratory personnel, defray education costs, and promote the profession. Medical laboratory diagnostics—tests performed on the body’s blood, urine, or tissue samples to obtain critical data used for disease detection, diagnosis and monitoring—is one of the most cost-effective components of healthcare today. In fact, laboratory diagnostic tests account for only 2 percent of total healthcare spending, while the results influence 70 percent of the medical decision about the care to be delivered.1

“Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics is committed to the laboratory profession and the technologists who play a critical role in helping clinicians improve patient outcomes,” said Michael Reitermann, CEO, Siemens Healthcare, Diagnostics Division. “We extend our warmest congratulations to this year’s scholarship recipients and are privileged to support them as they pursue their education in diagnostic medicine.”

A total of 153 scholarships were awarded from 283 eligible applications, with 54 percent of eligible applicants receiving a scholarship award. Siemens provided financial support for the program’s Graduate (post-baccalaureate) and Legacy scholarships. Legacy scholarships are $2,000 each, and recognize the clinical laboratory profession by helping to fund laboratory science education for children, grandchildren, and siblings of laboratory professionals who are certified as MT/MLS or MLT. Graduate Scholarships are $1,000 each, and support students enrolled in clinical or medical laboratory science graduate programs.

“Many laboratories are understaffed, and an increasing demand for medical care for an aging population is driving rapid change in laboratory testing technology,” said Michele A. Smith, MS, SCT(ASCP), Chair of the ASCP Scholarship Committee. “As a result, there is a significant need for more young professionals to enter the field of medical laboratory science. Programs like the Siemens—ASCP Scholarship Program are critical to meeting the laboratory workforce needs of tomorrow.”

Awards are available to eligible students in the U.S. pursuing associate, bachelor, or master’s degrees in medical laboratory science. Scholarships are awarded by the ASCP, which also administers the program.

For further information on the Siemens – ASCP Scholarship Program, please visit: http://usa.healthcare.siemens.com/about-us/healthcare-business-groups/diagnostics/scholarships-programs or www.ascp.org/scholarships

Contact for journalists:

John Gillespie
Siemens Healthcare, Media and Public Relations
Phone: +1 914-524-2636; E-mail: john.gillespie@siemens.com
Follow us on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/siemenshealth

Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a global technology powerhouse that has stood for engineering excellence, innovation, quality, reliability and internationality for more than 165 years. The company is active in more than 200 countries, focusing on the areas of electrification, automation and digitalization. One of the world's largest producers of energy-efficient, resource-saving technologies, Siemens is No. 1 in offshore wind turbine construction, a leading supplier of combined cycle turbines for power generation, a major provider of power transmission solutions and a pioneer in infrastructure solutions as well as automation, drive and software solutions for industry. The company is also a leading provider of medical imaging equipment – such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging systems – and a leader in laboratory diagnostics as well as clinical IT. In fiscal 2014, which ended on September 30, 2014, Siemens generated revenue from continuing operations of €71.9 billion and net income of €5.5 billion. At the end of September 2014, the company had around 357,000 employees worldwide. Further information is available on the Internet at http://www.siemens.com.

About ASCP

The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) unites more than 100,000 anatomic and clinical pathologists, residents and fellows, medical laboratory professionals, and students to accelerate the advancement of laboratory medicine to better improve patient care through knowledge, collaboration, and global community. ASCP’s mission is to provide excellence in education, certification, and advocacy on behalf of the patients, pathologists, and laboratory professionals across the globe. For more information, visit www.ascp.org

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