To the sounds of cheering and clapping, and the snip of giant scissors, ARUP Laboratories and the University of Utah's Division of Medical Laboratory Sciences (MLS) officially opened the Advanced Practice Clinical Laboratory Training Center (APL) with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Two students, Natalie Dow, MLS Student of the Year 2025 and an ARUP employee, and Megan Hedrick, MLS Student of the Year 2024, made the celebratory cut while Tracy George, MD, ARUP chief scientific officer and Innovation Business Unit president, and Diana Wilkins, PhD, MS, MLS(ASCP), division chief, Medical Laboratory Sciences, and C. Scott and Dorothy E. Watkins Endowed Professor of Pathology, Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the U, held the ends of red ribbon.

The APL, which is located inside ARUP's Building 4 at University of Utah Research Park, is the result of a visionary collaboration between ARUP and the U. The new lab is designed to address a critical nationwide shortage of clinical laboratory scientists and serve as a model for workforce development across the country. With an aging workforce, fewer training programs, and increased demand for laboratory services, the need for these highly trained professionals is growing.

"There are not enough clinical laboratory scientists to operate all of the equipment in labs across the U.S.," said George. "We proposed creating a state-of-the-art facility here in Utah to train students to work in a clinical laboratory," George explained.

Funding for the lab was made available in 2022 through federal appropriation with support from former Utah Rep. Chris Stewart and numerous letters of support from several Utah leaders including Michael Good, MD, former CEO of U of U Health; Bert Lopansri, MD, medical director of the Central Microbiology Laboratory at Intermountain Health; Nate Checketts, deputy director, Healthcare Administration at the Utah Department of Health and Human Services; Peter Jensen, MD, chairman of the U Department of Pathology and the ARUP Board of Directors; and Andy Theurer, ARUP CEO. "We put together an impressive application with local support and submitted it to the federal government," said George. "I'm delighted that we were able to get the funding, and now we have an impressive, finished product."

The APL will double the number of clinical laboratory scientists trained at the U, with the goal of reaching 80 graduates annually. "For MLS programs, that's a big number," said Wilkins. "Every year, students complete 18 weeks of clinical laboratory rotations, and this new lab frees up space at other clinical sites, allowing us to train more students," Wilkins continued.

The lab's creation was a collaborative effort, involving faculty, medical directors, and leaders from both ARUP and the U, said Jonathan Genzen, MD, PhD, MBA, ARUP chief medical officer and senior director of governmental affairs. "There was never hesitation when the idea was proposed. Once we secured congressional funding, we worked together to build a training center that mimics a hospital laboratory with chemistry, hematology, immunology, microbiology, and blood banking."

Genzen said Steffani Knowles, ARUP project manager, was instrumental in navigating the creation of the APL to completion. Knowles spearheaded the funding and administrative documentation, coordinated space planning, and ensured the lab would be sustainable long-term.

"The partnership between ARUP and the U bridges the gap between learning and doing, so students are better prepared to step into full-time roles with confidence. I'm proud to have helped manage the build-out, and it's exciting to see how it's already making an impact for students and the future of the profession," Knowles said.

Students in the APL work with real patient samples, which are discarded specimens from clinical testing, using the same instruments found in hospital laboratories. The lab also features a classroom, a phlebotomy room, a dedicated laboratory information system (LIS), and modern equipment, all designed to provide hands-on experience.

"Students learn with state-of-the-art instruments, real samples, and excellent teachers," said George. "We're putting patients first by ensuring the highest quality testing and training for the next generation of laboratory scientists, and eventually, we want to replicate the program in other parts of the country."

Graduates of the program enjoy a 100% employment rate, often receiving job offers before graduation, Wilkins said. "Most of our students work in clinical laboratories across the Salt Lake Valley, but some go out of state or pursue further education in medical, dental, or graduate school. It's an excellent STEM career with many opportunities," Wilkins explained.

As the first cohort of students began their rotations in July, the excitement was palpable. "I'm incredibly proud of everybody involved," said Genzen. "It took incredible commitment by so many people who were singularly dedicated to improving education and creating this one-of-a-kind opportunity."

Visit this page to learn more about the programs within the Division of Medical Laboratory Sciences. Additional information about the profession is also available at ARUP's MLS Faculty and Student Resource Center.

Bonnie Stray, [email protected]

Tracy George, MD, ARUP chief scientific officer and Innovation Business Unit president; Jonathan Genzen, MD, PhD, MBA, ARUP chief medical officer and senior director of governmental affairs; and Diana Wilkins, PhD, MS, MLS(ASCP), division chief, Medical Laboratory Sciences, and C. Scott and Dorothy E. Watkins Endowed Professor of Pathology, Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah, discuss the genesis of the Advanced Practice Clinical Laboratory Training Center and how it addresses a critical shortage of medical laboratory scientists.

APL Timeline