From Classroom to Clinicals: Mini Grant Helps Students Explore Healthcare Careers

A $10,000 mini grant from the Detroit Regional Chamber Foundation’s Healthcare Talent Collaborative is supporting Oakland County Michigan Works!’ Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) Summer Immersion Program for local students in Southeast Michigan. This summer initiative created paid, hands-on healthcare career exploration opportunities with partners including Oakland University, Joint Venture Hospital Laboratories (JVHL), Henry Ford Health, Corewell Health, and McLaren. Originally designed for 10 participants, the program expanded to 15 students, all of whom completed the internship experience. Students began with classroom learning at Oakland University’s Human Health Building, then moved to hospital lab sites for clinical exposure.