As part of its continuing effort to highlight the critical role that laboratory medicine plays in healthcare, Abbott announced that it has awarded diagnostic equipment, supplies and service to clinical laboratory educational programs at 16 accredited schools across the United States.
These programs, designed to prepare students for careers in clinical laboratory science, represent the first grant recipients of the Instrument Donation Initiative, sponsored by the company's "Labs Are Vital™ " Program. The state-of-the-art equipment awarded includes automated immunoassay analyzers, hematology systems and handheld point-of-care automated diagnostic instruments.
"While it is important to recognize and celebrate the work of lab professionals currently in the field, Abbott's 'Labs Are Vital' program also addresses the need to train and support the next generation of laboratory professionals on high-tech, real-world equipment," said Don Patton, vice president, global diagnostic commercial operations, Abbott. "Our nation's clinical laboratories are facing a critical shortage of qualified laboratory personnel, and providing educational programs with additional resources to train future laboratorians is a first step for us to help."
The 16 recipients represent nine universities and seven community colleges, and were selected from more than 100 online applications. An independent panel of judges – representing university, community college and hospital-based programs – chose the awardees based on a combination of selection criteria, including need and number of students reached by the program. |
