The Wayne State University Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences recently honored two Applied Health Sciences faculty members for exemplary performance in the classroom.

The recipient of this year's full-time teaching award is Assistant Clinical Professor Karen Apolloni, who serves as program director of the Medical Laboratory Science program.

“Karen’s contributions to the MLS program as a faculty member and leader are too numerous to list,” said Department of Applied Health Sciences Chair Mark Evely. “She is the go-to person for students, faculty and administrators, and provides invaluable advice, guidance and leadership in our department as well as the Health Sciences division of the college.”

Apolloni, who also teaches in the Pathologists' Assistant program, serves as an example of how to connect concepts to clinical skills. She is committed to positive student outcomes, and most recently developed and taught a certification exam review course for MLS students and oversaw technology upgrades in the lab to enhance the student experience. 

The recipient of the part-time faculty teaching award is Nichole Bradford, an adjunct faculty member of the Pathologists’ Assistant program. In her Histochemistry course, Bradford employs state-of-the-art teaching technology, and ties concepts learned in each class session to the ASCP certification exam.

“In addition to designing hands-on exercises and providing students with real-world examples and day-to-day expectations for a pathologists’ assistant, one of the traits that students appreciate the most about Nichole is her willingness to talk them through various exercises and problems,” Evely said. “She provides guidance while allowing the students to develop the critical thinking and problem solving skills necessary for PA practice.”

Evely added, “Please join me in congratulating Karen and Nichole as this year's recipients of the AHS teaching awards. At the same time, I want to thank all of our faculty members for your efforts — often not formally recognized but always valued and appreciated — in teaching and guiding our students toward their goals.”

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The bachelor of science in Medical Laboratory Science is offered through Wayne State’s Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences with an application deadline of May 1. Medical laboratory scientists work behind the scenes to provide critical information to doctors through medical tests.  In fact, lab results inform more than 70% of diagnoses, allowing doctors to tailor treatment plans and therapies to each patient. Medical laboratory scientists may also pursue careers in medical information systems technology, research and design new testing methods, or go on to medical school.

Established in 1989, the WSU Applebaum Master of Science in Pathologists' Assistant program is one of only 13 in the United States and Canada accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) to train students in the highly specialized field of anatomic pathology. Information meetings for prospective students take place at 6 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month. The application deadline is Jan. 15, and all prerequisite coursework must be complete by Dec. 30.

An anchor in urban health care

The Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is built on more than 100 years of tradition and innovation in the heart of Detroit. We have grown deep roots in our city, harnessing its powerhouse hospital systems and community service organizations as vibrant, real-world training grounds for students, with an ongoing focus on social justice in health care. And our research at all levels – from undergraduates to veteran faculty members – translates into creative solutions for healthier communities.

Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution offering approximately 350 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 24,000 students.