LA PLATA, Md. - An eye for detail and a great analytical mind are just some of the skills the College of Southern Maryland is looking for in candidates for its new medical laboratory technology program this fall.
The intensive two-year program (including one summer semester) will train students to perform routine medical tests including blood count, urinalysis, blood cross matching for transfusions, pathogenic organism identification and chemical analysis. CSM's medical laboratory technology program includes rotations in local clinical laboratories and will prepare students for the level of accuracy and precision that will be required of them in the profession.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, careers for clinical laboratory technicians are expected to see faster than average employment growth as the demand for medical testing expands. Due to a 17-year shortage on the number of qualified medical lab technicians, the Maryland Higher Education Commission has short-listed it as one of Maryland's Top 25 Demand Healthcare Occupations.
"Being a medical lab technician is one of the most important and yet unseen positions within the health care community," said Bill Montgomery, professor and chair of CSM's biological and physical sciences department. "They do such a variety of essential tasks and often life-saving tests and yet they are not limited to working in a hospital lab. Lab technicians are being utilized by industries in their research and development departments, breweries use the tech's skills to test fermentation levels and, of course, the field of forensics depends on lab techs to accurately test blood and tissue samples for use in body identification and court trials," Montgomery continued.
"The medical laboratory technology program is highly structured with a clearly defined progression and as such, students need to be prepared to complete the sequence of classes and required rotations as prescribed," said Quincy Mata, director of the medical laboratory technology program.
Applications for the medical laboratory technology program are due by July 1, 2007. Due to the competitiveness of this program, applicants need to meet strict admission and program requirements including a criminal background check. For a complete list of requirements visit, http://www.csmd.edu/healthcare/programs/medlabtech.html.
For information call 301-934-7591 or 301-870-3008, Ext. 7591 for Charles County; 240-725-5499, Ext. 7591 for St. Mary's County or 443-550-6199, Ext. 7591 for Calvert County.