Master in Immunohematology

Overview

The proposed master’s of science in Immunohematology program is a 36-credit master’s degree for individuals holding a Bachelor of Science in clinical laboratory science/medical technology or associated science. Immunohematology Technology Specialists help ensure that blood products are properly typed, labeled and free of disease. The Masters of Immunohematology is designed to provide graduates with advanced knowledge in consultation services to other health care workers, the administration and supervision of transfusion services and in conducting and publishing research in the field of immunohematology and transfusion therapy. The graduate students of this program are expected to be experts in variety of subjects including genetics, immunology, regulatory and quality systems, collection and storage of blood and components, component therapy, transfusion of the newborn, complications of transfusion, blood groups, immune mechanisms, general administration, personnel administration, education and automated data processing. To achieve this mission, the program relies on highly specialized dedicated staff members and a fully equipped infrastructure facility. Graduates of our program will be prepared to serve in many roles within the transfusion medicine field such as technical/procedural advisors, regulatory experts, laboratory administrators, quality assessors and managers, educators within their field for technical and scientific training in blood transfusion medicine and researchers in transfusion medicine. Our postgraduates can always have the opportunity of building a career in education and research. The vision of the Immunohematology program at AAUP is to contribute in the development and upgrading of medical health services in Palestine by providing excellent postgraduate education and exceptional scientific research work.

Goals

The Master of Immunohematology-AAUP/Palestine leverages distinguished faculty, innovative curriculum, and real-world experience. Students will learn to integrate both conventional and molecular biology methods into transfusion medicine, in addition to acquiring theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

Demonstrate a critical understanding of the research on, and practice of, blood transfusion sciences and transfusion medicine.
Create competent medical laboratory technicians capable efficiently performing a wide range of biomedical analyses.
Apply knowledge of immunohematology and transfusion medicine principles as they relate to disease diagnosis.
Promote a critical understanding of perspectives and tools for approaching the challenges of immunohematology and blood banking in real settings.
Introduce principles of traditional and molecular laboratory procedures to perform diagnostic analyses.
Correlate laboratory and quality control data to assess patient test results.
Apply ethical decision making to issues related to clinical laboratory practice.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOME

Upon a successful completion of the program of Immunohematology M.Sc. degree, the student will be able to deal professionally with all aspects of transfusion services and immunohematology science aspects.

Apply knowledge of the antigen and antibody characteristics of blood group systems in procedures to detect and identify them.
Utilize the theoretical concepts of immunological and serological techniques to guarantee safety of blood transfusion.
Recognize, manage and prevent reactions to transfusion.
Monitor hospital transfusion practices compared to institutional, national or international benchmarks.
Actively lead a hospital transfusion committee to facilitate communication between those involved with transfusion.
Review ongoing quality control, proficiency testing, and competency evaluation activities.
Demonstrate professional behavior through working both independently and in groups to solve problems and perform analyses.
Establish work habits and ethics which represent an understanding of the behaviors needed to provide optimum care for the patient population.

Careers of Graduates

Graduates in Immunohematology program will be prepared to advance to and leadership positions in blood banking laboratories, blood centers, transfusion medicine research and academic institutions. Careers paths can include:

Blood Bank Laboratory Manager.
Private and government diagnostic laboratories.
Transfusion Medicine or Molecular Biology Scientist.
Research laboratories at universities and various medical research institutions.
Academic staffs at educational institutions (private and government universities, collages, etc.).
Pharmaceutical industry, by utilizing blood components in the transfusion therapy.