In this episode of “Science in the Mall, Y’all,” we welcome back previous ACC Bioscience Incubator intern Mauricio Tellez, who is joined by Dr. Rodney Rohde. Dr. Rohde and Mauricio met through the Clinical Laboratory Science (CLS) Program at Texas State University, which Mauricio graduated from in 2021. In addition to being the CLS Program Director and a professor at TX State, Dr. Rohde is also an adjunct at Austin Community College, and has an illustrious career as an infectious disease expert and microbiologist rooted in public health. 

Mauricio and Dr. Rohde kick off the conversation by explaining the various connections between ACC, the ACC Bioscience Incubator, TX State, and the CLS Program. Mauricio shares how he leveraged his experiences at ABI once he had transferred to TX State, explaining how his time as an intern gave him laboratory experience that helped him earn entry into the competitive CLS Program. 

They get into the importance of viewing education as a means to creating a career path, and talk about how ACC and TX State focus on building people into professionals instead of simply treating them as students. Mauricio and Dr. Rohde talk with Nancy and Dan about how undergraduates interested in science can turn that passion into a profitable, meaningful career, and how using resources like ACC and ABI can help you clarify your goals and save money in the process. 

They explain what CLS is and the job opportunities that abound there, even though these roles in the medical and healthcare fields are relatively “invisible” or hidden careers. Medical or clinical laboratory scientists read between the lines of patient care and laboratory medical data to help physicians and healthcare teams make good decisions and avoid critical mistakes - sometimes making the difference between life and death for patients. 

Mauricio shares the job outlook and security in the field and how he was able to be guaranteed a job immediately after graduating. They explain it’s an ideal career path for people who want to make a difference but don’t want to be at the bedside the same way that nurses and doctors are.

Stay tuned for part two of this discussion to learn about CLS job opportunities and experiences!

Learn more about Texas State University's CLS Program.

Learn more about Dr. Rohde.  

Learn more about ACC Bioscience Incubator. 

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