Madeline Thies may have chosen the distance education option for a new Medical Science (Pathology) program, but she's still getting plenty of hands-on experience thanks to the work-integrated learning focus of the degree.

She's been juggling her full-time job in a Brisbane dental clinic with Medical Science residential schools at CQUniversity Rockhampton and clinicial placements in a pathology laboratory which handles urgent hospital tests. 

Madeline Thies pictured during a residential school laboratory session

"The most satisfying aspect of the degree is the actual placement working in a real lab seeing how everything fits together; you feel as though you're actually helping and it's quite rewarding, well it was for me anyway as I love everything to do with pathology," Madeline says.

"In the pathology laboratory where I did my clinical placement it's all very critical and fast paced. Even though they were constantly busy the lab managers still were very enthusiastic in training me and making sure I understood what was going on."

Having received very positive feedback from the pathology lab, Madeline is sure she is on the right track towards a fresh career after graduation.

Medical laboratory scientists specialising in pathology examine bodily samples to assist in making a diagnosis regarding a patient's medical condition. CQUniversity's Bachelor of Medical Science provides opportunities for students in one of three specialist areas: pathology, clinical investigation or nutrition.  LINK HERE for details of the Pathology specialisation available at Rockhampton Campus or via distance education.

The Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathology) has been designed to meet the accreditation requirements of the Australian Institute of Medical Scientists (AIMS).