By Kirell Lakhman

Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics today announced that it has awarded more $120,000 in scholarships in the US this year to help "support students interested in pursuing a degree in medical laboratory science."

The company has set up the scholarships "[a]s part of [its] continuing effort to address the critical workforce shortage facing clinical laboratories," the company said in a statement, which also includes a list of the award recipients.

Siemens has shelled out more than $1.25 million in scholarships since it started the program in 2003. The scholarships are awarded in partnership with the American Society for Clinical Pathology.

As I've written in these pages before, the shortage of lab techs is growing every year as lab vets retire with comparatively less new blood to fill their slots at the bench. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, 138,000 new lab professionals will be needed in the workforce by 2012, but fewer than 50,000 will be trained.

"The shortage of laboratory professionals is a grave concern for healthcare providers," according to ASCP official Karen Brown, who serves on the scholarship committee. She is a professor and associate program director in the Department of Pathology at the University of Utah.

The scholarship program "is helping laboratories ensure the future of quality patient care by supporting students interested in pursuing a degree in medical laboratory science," the company said in the statement.

According to Siemens, awards are available to "eligible US students pursuing associate, baccalaureate, or master's degrees in medical laboratory science." Also, "[s]pecial Legacy Scholarships are awarded to students who follow their family members into the laboratory profession."

"We feel privileged to help our customers by supporting the development of the next generation of skilled laboratorians," Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics CEO Donal Quinn said.