Jun 8, 2026
Turning experience into opportunity for future MLS students
Before she was guiding prospective students through the Medical Laboratory Sciences program at Virginia Commonwealth University, Anood Habahbeh was one of them and searching for direction.
“I didn’t even know about this career path until my junior year,” she said.
As a VCU biology major, Habahbeh found herself in a familiar position: committed to science, but unsure how to translate that into a career. Discovering MLS reshaped that path, offering both purpose and a clear professional trajectory.
“I was worried that I had no route,” she said. “So I was really glad to find out about a program that opens the door to many opportunities.”
Habahbeh went on to earn her master’s degree in MLS with a concentration in hematology, graduating with her second VCU degree in 2021. From there, she moved into clinical practice, first at VCU Health and later at Johnston-Willis Hospital, where she gained hands-on experience in diagnostic laboratory work.
In those roles, she performed testing that underpins modern medicine – from complete blood counts to coagulation and body fluid analysis – work that often goes unseen but is critical to patient care.
“We work behind the scenes and provide information to doctors that assists them in diagnosing patients,” Habahbeh said. “Without laboratory testing, they are left with many questions.”
While she valued the impact of her work, the realities of shift-based hospital schedules and the struggles for work-life balance led her to reassess her career direction. She found an opportunity to return to VCU in December 2025 as the MLS program manager, where she now supports students at the beginning of their journeys.
“I knew I wanted to come back here because I wanted to work with students and help them find a passion for laboratory science,” Habahbeh said.
In her role, she oversees application review, advises prospective students on prerequisites and serves as a key point of contact for those exploring MLS as a career path. At the same time, she is expanding outreach efforts to increase awareness of a field that remains largely under the radar.
“A lot of people are like me: They major in biology or chemistry and don’t know what to do after that,” she said. “The earlier you start teaching them about this field, the more they’ll be aware that we exist.”
Habahbeh is broadly committed to workforce development, helping students see MLS not just as an academic program, but as a direct pathway into high-demand health care careers.
However, the work goes beyond recruitment. Her goal is to stay closely connected to students throughout their development. “I want to be more involved and see how they’re doing and how they’re developing as scientists,” she said.
Habahbeh’s own experience shaped her perspective, which now informs how she advises students considering MLS, particularly those drawn to healthcare but seeking a different kind of role. “Some students are interested in medicine or nursing, but don’t want direct patient interaction,” she said. “They might be more interested in this field.”
Just months into her new position, Habahbeh is still navigating the breadth of responsibilities behind the scenes of the program, but that sense of discovery is part of what makes the role meaningful.
“I’m learning something new every day,” she said. “It feels like I’m giving back to my program. It feels fulfilling.”