A rare discovery in the laboratory shows UNMC grad’s dedication

Medical laboratory scientist Zankhana Amin in the lab

Nebraska Medicine highlighted the rare laboratory discovery by Zankhana Amin, a medical laboratory scientist who is a 2011 graduate of the Medical Laboratory Science Program in the UNMC College of Allied Health Professions.

Nebraska Medicine’s Kara Haworth described the case:

“I couldn’t open my eyes I was in so much pain.”

That’s how Taylor Billion described how she felt when she arrived at the Emergency Department at Nebraska Medical Center one day in March.

She was suffering from abdominal pain, vomiting, and nausea. Despite her experience as a medical student at Creighton University Medical School, she had no idea what was wrong.

That’s when one of our laboratory scientists went to work.

Click this link to watch Nebraska Medicine’s video about Amin’s rare discovery.

Karen Honeycutt, PhD, program director of UNMC’s Medical Laboratory Science Program, offered her kudos to Amin. Dr. Honeycutt also is an associate professor and chair of the UNMC Department of Allied Health Professions Education, Research and Practice.

“Zankhana, thank you for your dedication to the medical laboratory science profession and quality patient care. You make an incredible impact to patient lives with each and every specimen result. Excellent work on this rare find.”

Kevin McGuire, an assistant professor in the Medical Laboratory Science Program and a former classmate of Amin, said Amin’s meticulous attention to detail and unwavering commitment to patient care always have stood out.

“It’s incredibly heartening to see her contributions being recognized and her work shedding light on the vital, often unsung, role of medical laboratory scientists. With 14 years of dedicated service in laboratory medicine at Nebraska Medicine, Zankhana continues to exemplify the precision, compassion and professionalism that define this critical field.”

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8 comments

  1. Marnie Imhoff says:

    Incredible work by one of our former MLS students – well done, Zankhana!

  2. Peggy Moore says:

    Inspiring work and story from our amazing CAHP students! Great work handling tough problems Amin!

  3. Emily Wiley says:

    Excellent and well deserved praise during Medical Laboratory Professionals Week 2025! Great job, Zankhana.

  4. Kevin McGuire says:

    The timing of this story couldn’t be more appropriate, as we celebrate Medical Laboratory Professionals Week. Laboratory professionals are essential members of the healthcare team, yet their work frequently goes unnoticed by the public and even within their own institutions. Often described as the “hidden profession that saves lives,” these individuals play a crucial role in diagnosing and guiding treatment through laboratory testing.

    Each day, healthcare providers rely on laboratorians to perform complex analyses on blood and body fluids, interpret test results, and contribute vital insights into patient health. From detecting cancer and identifying infectious agents to monitoring glucose and drug levels, their expertise underpins countless clinical decisions.

  5. William Hay says:

    Reminiscent of the case I was involved with In Chicago in the 90s. One of our international students presented to the emergency room, three times, with complaints of fever. They were specifically mentioned they were concerned about the possibility of malaria, but apparently this was considered too ‘exotic’ and they were less tested for it.
    Luckily, one of the technicians in the lab spotted the organism on a CBC slide. Thank goodness for our MLS professionals!

  6. Karen Honeycutt says:

    Great work providing excellent patient care!

  7. Taylor says:

    Great Job Zankhana, you are such a spectacular individual 🙂

  8. Ifeoluwa Adeagbo says:

    Congratulation to you Zankhana and to all members of the MLS profession. Its a good week to be proud of being a MLS.

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