Program Overview

The doctorate in clinical laboratory science is an advanced-practice degree for actively practicing, currently ASCP-certified, medical laboratory scientists. It is designed for those interested in increasing practical and theoretical knowledge of clinical laboratory science, advancing in the profession, and positively impacting the current health care system.

The three-year, full-time program consists of 76 credit hours divided between advanced theory courses (core curriculum), research, and a one-year clinical residency. Course delivery may include face-to-face, online, and hybrid formats.

The core curriculum may be completed on a part-time basis. However, the residency component requires full-time attendance at a clinical affiliate. 

The core curriculum is designed to advance the foundational knowledge of the bachelor's-level medical laboratory scientist in the areas of hematology, clinical chemistry, clinical microbiology, immunohematology, clinical immunology, and molecular diagnostics. Information gained from this course work is integrated with foundational knowledge from other disciplines in health care such as health policy and management, pharmacology, health care education, public health and epidemiology, and advanced pathophysiology.

Research is a component of this program and students will be expected to complete research projects over the course of the program culminating in a capstone project suitable for publication.

The one-year clinical residency will provide immersion in the workings of the health care system by integrating the resident into patient care alongside physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and other health care professionals. The residency focuses on laboratory test selection and result interpretation. In addition to the direct learning by the resident, he or she can educate the patient and the other members of the health care team on the proper utilization of lab tests, correct specimen requirements, and interfering factors affecting results.

Graduates of this program will be prepared to act as consultants to health care providers, serve as laboratory directors, educate patients and health care providers, perform and disseminate research on evidence-based practice and test utilization, and enter academic positions.

For additional details about the program, including policies and procedures, please review the programs's student handbook  and the school's student handbook.

See also: advanced practice paper available at the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science.

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Program Faculty

	Eric Elsinghorst, Ph.D., MPH, MLS(ASCP)MBcm Department Chair Graduate Director Research Associate Professor
	Susan Renee Hodgkins, Ph.D., MT(ASCP) DCLS Program Director Clinical Assistant Professor
	Andrew Jones, MBA, MLS(ASCP)cm Clinical Assistant Professor
	Letycia Nunez-Argote, MPH, CPH, MLS(ASCP)cm Clinical Assistant Professor

	Dana Bostic, MBA, M.S., MLS(ASCP)cm Clinical Assistant Professor
	Janet Hudzicki, Ph.D., MLS(ASCP), SM(ASCP) Clinical Associate Professor
	WenFang Wang, Ph.D., C(ASCP)cm Clinical Assistant Professor
	Yan Zheng, Ph.D., MLS(ASCP)cm Clinical Assistant Professor

The KU Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences plans to apply for accreditation of the DCLS program by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS) as soon as the program becomes eligible for accreditation.

Students enter KU's doctoral program in clinical laboratory science having already obtained certification by the American Society for Clinical Pathology as a medical laboratory scientist. Beyond that, there currently are no additional national certification examinations available or state licensure requirements for graduates of this program.