Middlesex Community College Adds Accelerated Option For Medical Laboratory Technology

Winchester MA

23 June, 2022

4:15 AM

Description

Press release from the Middlesex Community College: June 22, 2022 The COVID-19 pandemic shed light on a team of healthcare workers often referred to as being in "the hidden profession," according to Suzanne McHale, MCC's Professor & Program Coordinator of Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT). Medical Laboratory Technicians are members of the clinical laboratory who perform tests to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders. With jobs across Massachusetts in high demand, Middlesex Community College is expanding its MLT program to offer an 11-month associate degree program. This is a flexible and quick option for prospective students holding a bachelor's degree in areas such as biology, chemistry and biochemistry. "Hospitals can hire post-baccalaureate science degree candidates to work in the clinical laboratory, but these employees are limited in the departments they qualify for," McHale said. "With our new program, students will be trained in all areas of the laboratory, which is advantageous to many hospital and reference laboratories. MCC has clinical affiliations all over – Merrimack Valley, Worcester, Boston and southern New Hampshire – looking to hire our graduates. The MLT field offers many employment opportunities and job security." "This accelerated program will provide me with the knowledge that I need to become a Medical Technician without disregarding the education that I've already received," said MCC student Linedlay Alcide. "Instead, it uses those former classes to help me qualify for the program. I think this is a great program to consider to solidify your knowledge of a medical lab." MCC's program will be piloted in the Fall 2022 semester, in addition to the traditional MLT associate degree program. Throughout the 11-month program, students will take four classes in both the Fall and Spring semesters. Two will be taken in each of the accelerated Mini-mesters per semester and one class during the WinterSession, before students complete their practicums and seminar course over the summer. Students in the first year of the program will graduate in Summer 2023 with their associate degrees. Upon completion, graduates will be eligible to take the national Board of Certification Exam with the American Society for Clinical Pathology for Medical Laboratory Technician. With this certification and one more year of work in the clinical laboratory, individuals may then apply to take the Medical Laboratory Scientist exam. "After working alongside such brilliant medical technologists, I quickly realized that I wanted to learn more, and I wanted to contribute more," said MCC student Stephanie Cofske. "I wanted to fully understand the capacity at which they work, and I wanted to follow in their footsteps. The accelerated program here at MCC is the perfect opportunity to achieve my goals, as I already have a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology." MCC's MLT program has a long history of success with a near 100 percent pass rate on the certification exam. The program was also recently reaccredited for 10 years through the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS). "While searching for my dream career, I finally found it in MCC," said MCC student Nene Mariama D. Bah. "As a Medical Lab Technician student in the accelerated program, I will learn all the professional courses and training related to the MLT program and get my diploma in less than one year. Because of saving both time and money while studying in the accelerated MLT program at MCC, this is far more convenient for me." This press release was produced by the Middlesex Community College. The views expressed here are the author's own.