Wayne State University's (WSU) Mortuary Science Building will open its doors to the public for its annual open house from 6-9 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 14.
This is a 'learn and tour' experience through the four-story building, which houses the most advanced teaching and research resources in embalming, anatomy, restorative arts, clinical laboratory science and pathology assistant laboratories.
Begun in 1991 as a small gathering of alumni, students, and friends of the mortuary science program, today the Mortuary Science Open House highlights all the educational programs housed in the WSU Department of Fundamental and Applied Sciences. This event now attracts from 500 to 700 visitors, who begin lining up outside the building well before the doors open.
"If you are thinking of a career change or are a student evaluating career options, this 'tour and learn' opportunity is a good introduction to the health sciences of Mortuary Science, Clinical Laboratory Science, Pathologists' Assistant, and Forensic Investigation," said Peter D. Frade, chair of the Department of Fundamental and Applied Sciences in the University's Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. "Faculty, alumni and students will be present to answer questions on each program and profession," Frade assured.
There is no charge and no reservation required for the WSU Mortuary Science Open House. The building is located at 5439 Woodward Ave. at Ferry St. in Detroit, three blocks north of Warren Ave. Free parking will be available in WSU Lot #33 on Woodward Ave., between Palmer and Ferry streets.
The WSU mortuary science program began in 1939 and was one of the nation's first programs of its kind. Today, it is still the only accredited, undergraduate degree program leading to state licensure in Michigan. "It also is one of three programs in Carnegie Research Universities (very high research activity) core-based accredited programs in the nation," said Mark Evely, program director. Seventy-five percent of funeral home owners in Southeast Michigan earned degrees from the WSU mortuary science program.
The pathologists' assistant program is the only program in Michigan without competition and one of only nine accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). "I am proud to boast that our graduates achieve nearly 100 percent first-time, test-taker pass rates on the American Society for Clinical Pathology Certification Examination and are in high demand regionally and nationally," said Frade. The program is currently in transition from an undergraduate to graduate program.
Clinical laboratory science (CLS) is one of the oldest programs of its kind in Michigan, dating back more than 40 years. "Our CLS program is a major supplier of board certified clinical and medical laboratory scientists in the metropolitan Detroit area," said Karen Apolloni, program director. "On average, 85-100 percent of our graduates are working in their chosen profession within six months of graduation."
The forensic investigation program offers a post bachelor certificate and dates back to 1997 as an investigation cohort to the Forensic Science program at Michigan State University. "The WSU program is the only one of its type in Michigan and widely recognized regionally and nationally," Frade said. It offers students internships at the Wayne, Macomb and Oakland Counties Medical Examiners' Offices, with governmental affiliations with the Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the U.S. Treasury Department.
The Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is committed to advancing the health and well-being of society by preparing highly skilled health care practitioners and conducting groundbreaking research to improve models of practice and methods of treatment in pharmacy and the health sciences.
Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution offering more than 370 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 29,000 students.