University of Washington announced that an anonymous donor gifted a generous $50 million to the Laboratory Science Program. This donation covers in-state tuition for senior-year clinic students. Tuition for this program is between $4,000 and $5,000 per quarter, which will be dolled out in annual disbursements. Graduate students in this program perform lab tests, conduct research, and teach in higher education institutions. The gift greatly eases economic insecurities from students, who can now enjoy a debt-free senior year. The program expands enrollment to 100 students over the next decade.
“It has been a long-standing dream to provide more financial support to students during the professional phase of the UW-MLS Program. We are deeply grateful to the donor whose transformative generosity is making this and our program’s growth possible,” said Dr. Geoffrey S. Baird, professor and department chair, who holds the Paul E. Strandjord and Kathleen J. Clayson Endowed Chair of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at the UW School of Medicine.
The demand for professionals in this field grows more every year. Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho are all in need of additional lab scientists, but Washington only has two schools that offer baccalaureate-level laboratory science degrees. This region-wide shortage is fueled by increased demand for lab services and an aging workforce.