Siemens Awards More Than 100 Scholarships to Medical Laboratory Students

DEERFIELD, Ill., March 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- As part of the continuing effort to address the critical workforce shortage facing clinical laboratories, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics today announced it has awarded over $120,000 in scholarships to the nation's top medical laboratory students. More than $1.25 million in scholarships have been awarded to medical laboratory students since the scholarship program launched in 2003.

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According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 138,000 new laboratory professionals will be needed in the workforce by 2012, but fewer than 50,000 will be trained. The Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Scholarship Program is helping laboratories ensure the future of quality patient care by supporting students interested in pursuing a degree in medical laboratory science. Medical laboratory personnel perform laboratory tests critical to the diagnosis and treatment of disease and other healthcare conditions.

"Siemens recognizes the important role laboratory professionals play in the delivery of quality patient care. We feel privileged to help our customers by supporting the development of the next generation of skilled laboratorians," said Donal Quinn, CEO, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics.

Scholarships are awarded in partnership with the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) who administers the program. Awards are available to eligible US students pursuing associate, baccalaureate or master's degrees in medical laboratory science. Special Legacy Scholarships are awarded to students who follow their family members into the laboratory profession. Siemens also funds similar scholarships in several other countries.

"The shortage of laboratory professionals is a grave concern for healthcare providers," explains Karen A. Brown, MS, MT(ASCP), who serves on the scholarship committee and is Professor and Associate Program Director, Department of Pathology at the University of Utah. "Siemens opens a door of opportunity for students and helps clinical laboratory educators build the workforce of tomorrow. These students will play an important role in providing quality healthcare to patients."

Fostering a culture of innovation, research and educational support, Siemens is committed to the future and to those who will create it, particularly in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math. The scholarship program is one of many educational initiatives the company supports.

The names of the scholarship recipients follow:

For more information about the Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Scholarship Program, visit www.usa.siemens.com/diagnostics-scholarships.

The Siemens Healthcare Sector is one of the world's largest suppliers to the healthcare industry and a trendsetter in medical imaging, laboratory diagnostics, medical information technology and hearing aids. Siemens offers its customers products and solutions for the entire range of patient care from a single source – from prevention and early detection to diagnosis, and on to treatment and aftercare. By optimizing clinical workflows for the most common diseases, Siemens also makes healthcare faster, better and more cost-effective. Siemens Healthcare employs some 48,000 employees worldwide and operates around the world. In fiscal year 2009 (to September 30), the Sector posted revenue of 11.9 billion euros and profit of around 1.5 billion euros. For further information please visit: www.siemens.com/healthcare.

Founded in 1922, ASCP is a professional society with 130,000 member pathologists, pathologists' assistants, residents, laboratory professionals and students. Based in Chicago, the ASCP provides excellence in education, certification and advocacy on behalf of patients, pathologists and laboratory professionals. Visit ASCP's Web site at www.ascp.org.

SOURCE Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics