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Title:
Michigan Science Olympiad: A way to engage students in STEM
Brief description:
Since 1984, the Michigan Science Olympiad (MSO) has been igniting curiosity and inspiring excellence in middle and high school students through hands-on, team-based STEM competitions. Discover how MSO can enhance your students’ skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics while opening doors to future STEM career pathways. This session will explore the benefits of starting a team at your school, share success stories from across the state, and highlight scholarship opportunities that can help your students, and your school succeed in MSO.
Learning Outcomes:
Knowledge of Michigan Science Olympiad history & workings
Benefits of having MSO at your school
How to get started with a team
About the Presenters:
Jessica Sudy serves as the Michigan Science Olympiad (MSO) Director for Region 12, representing Kent, Ottawa, and Muskegon Counties. She is the Program Manager at Grand Valley State University’s Regional Math and Science Center, bringing a wealth of experience from her years teaching middle and high school science in both Oregon and Michigan. A dedicated advocate for Integrated Science education, Jessica has shared her curriculum at notable events including the IntegratedEd:IPDX20 Computer Science Teachers Conference and the Columbia University Teachers College Science Literacies and Activism Symposium. She holds a Master of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Education from Lewis & Clark College and is a proud alumna of Grand Valley State University.
In this dynamic session, you’ll see inside the world of the medical laboratory through two powerful lenses. Dr. Mirza will guide you through a lesson based on a simulated hematology patient journey - from initial symptoms to diagnosis - illustrating how each stage of testing builds on performance expectations from the Framework for K-12 Science Education.
Then Karen Barron will open the door to the high-demand careers that make this work possible, highlighting the diverse roles in the medical laboratory and the opportunities for students to join this vital, life-saving workforce.
You’ll leave equipped to make science more relevant, exciting, and inspiring for your students – while showing how their learning can directly improve and even save lives.
Karen Barron MLS (ASCP) is a Medical Laboratory Scientist and Allied Health Education Manager for the Michigan Medicine Department of Pathology. She visits schools and collaborates with educators to raise awareness of medical laboratory services and professions. She also coordinates internships and facilitates continuing education and professional development for Pathology Allied Health staff which include Phlebotomists, Medical Laboratory Scientists, Histotechnologists, and Pathologist’s Assistants.
Dr. Kamran Mirza, MBBS, PhD, MLS (ASCP) is a Hematopathologist and Director of the Michigan Medicine Pathology Division of Training Programs and Communications. Dr. Mirza co-founded PathElective.com, a free educational website in pathology, American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Virtual Pathology Grand Rounds, the PathPod podcast, the PATH_SIG virtual pathology student interest group, www.hemereports.com, and the Digital Communications Fellowship in Pathology. Dr. Mirza's advocacy for pathology, patients, and trainees is highlighted on his social media channels (X: @KMirza, lnstagram and TikTok: @KamPathDoc).
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