Medical Laboratory Sciences faculty and students win awards, competitions at state conference

Faculty, staff and students of the Medical Laboratory Sciences program attended the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science — Texas 2026 meeting held in San Antonio  in April, with students posting impressive wins in the Student Bowl and research poster competition.

Two student teams competed in the Student Bowl, an academic quiz competition among teams from medical laboratory science programs across the state. Taking first place overall was the team including Tyler Tamayo (captain), Victoria Hutton, Itza Valdez, Melena Gutierrez and Carlos Jackson (alternate). The other Student Bowl team competing included Emily Stevens (captain), Dillon Taylor, Isabel Perez, Rebecca McBride and Megan Canales (alternate). MLS program faculty and staff participated as Student Bowl judges. 

MLS staff member Abigayle Abundes received the Omicron Sigma award, which recognizes those who volunteer their personal resources, time and energy to ASCLS.  Assistant Professor and Director of Clinical Education Cordy Kudika, MA, CHS (ACHI),received the TASCLS Member of the Year Award for 2025-2026. 

“This is a very high honor for her dedication and contributions to the TASCLS Planning Committee for volunteering her time and expertise across the board,” MLS Program Director Terri L. Murphy-Sanchez, MS, MLS: CSMLS, ASCP^CM, said of Kudika’s award.

Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences student Rosalinda Ramos-Pineda won a $1,000 scholarship at the conference.

Graduate students sweep research poster competition

Master’s student research posters won first, second and third place in the conference’s research poster competition.

1st place:  Donor-Specific Antibody Formation in Relation to HLA-DQ Mismatch Counts in Lung Transplant Recipients: A Retrospective Study: Students Corinna Salinas-Cleveland, Emily Stevens, Juan Sanchez, Nghi Le, with Tiffany Wafford, PhD, MSTM, MLS(ASCP), SBB; Clinical Assistant Professor Brittany Teeter, MS CLS, MLS(ASCP), Assistant Professor Cordelia Kudika MA,CHS(ACHI), and Kelley Hitchman, MS, PhD, F(ACHI).

2nd place: Comparison of Serum Uric Acid Levels Between Hispanic and Non-Hispanic NAFLD Patients: Students Gisselle Fermin, Rebecca McBride and Roberto Torres, with Clinical Assistant Professor Brittany Teeter, MS CLS, MLS (ASCP)^CM, and Professor Emeritus George Kudolo, PhD, FAIC, FADLM.

3rd place: Analysis of Hospital-Acquired Infection Rates Across Income Levels in the San Antonio, Dallas, and Houston, Texas Regions in 2024: Students Fernanda I. Valdez, Tabitha Garza, Bryanna Rich, Dakory Willis, MLS Program Director Terri L. Murphy-Sanchez, MS, MLS: CSMLS, ASCP^CM and Clinical Assistant Professor Brittany Teeter, MS CLS, MLS (ASCP)^CM). 

“I am very proud of our MLS program faculty and students,” Murphy-Sanchez said.