For an aspiring medical laboratory scientist, interning for the world’s top ranked healthcare system is a dream come true.
Ohio Northern University senior Griffin Schwiger is spending 10 weeks this summer working and learning at the Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse, Wis. One of the largest labs in the country, the Mayo Clinic performs over 27.6 million tests annually.
Griffin is the second ONU medical laboratory science major to obtain a highly competitive internship with the Mayo Clinic’s Summer Lab Science Program. His application was boosted by the fact that he’s worked for two years as a student lab technologist at Aultman Orrville Hospital in Orville, Ohio.
In addition to engaging in basic lab tasks like extractions, centrifugation, assay, and instrument validation, Griffin is shadowing Mayo professionals in different labs, including microbiology, histology, cytology, chemistry, hematology, blood bank, and urinalysis.
Since he’s undecided on an area of specialization after graduation, this summer experience is proving pivotal.
“It’s giving me a level head and clear idea about what I want to do in the future.”
One peculiar experience he had was transporting an amputated leg and then observing it being dissected, prepared, and stained. “It was super cool to see,” he said.
He especially appreciates learning from leading experts in specialty fields like parasitology who have given educational presentations.
“They gave us examples of unusual cases they have encountered in the real world, and they taught us how the lab plays a crucial role in patient care when those cases occur.”
Griffin credits his ONU mentor, Dr. Lisa Walden, BSMT ’89, his parents and friends, and his faith in God for encouraging him on his educational journey. This support system inspired him to step outside his comfort zone and seize an amazing internship 10 hours away, he said.
“I know that God had a hand in this, that this is an answered prayer, and that I am doing what God has called me to do.”
He added, “if it wasn’t for ONU, I don’t think I would have had this opportunity.”