The College and Allina team up to expand Medical Lab Tech program
On April 24, 10:00am, College president Donovan Schwichtenberg and Allina Hospitals and Clinics president & CEO, Dick Pettingill will sign a grant from the US Department of Labor committing resources to the advancement of Medical Laboratory training at the College. The grant addresses Minnesota's critical need for lab techs and scientists and provides more than $3 million dollars (including a match from industry partners) to increase the supply of Medical/Clinical Laboratory Technicians and Medical/Clinical Laboratory Scientists.
The primary purpose of the grant is to expand enrollment and graduation completion of skilled professionals in the Medical/Clinical Laboratory profession.
Medical/Clinical Laboratory Technicians and Medical/Clinical Laboratory Scientists represent only about 1.2 percent of the healthcare workforce in Minnesota. Yet these technicians and scientists, while small in number, provide between 70 and 80 percent of all objective data used to determine a patient's diagnosis and treatment.
Technicians are in high demand with a projected 2000 new hires needed between 2005 and 2015 to accommodate growth and attrition (retirement). The abundant job opportunities in this field are due in part to the large numbers of incumbent workers expected to retire in the near future.
Saint Paul College's faculty and leadership in the Medical Laboratory Technician Program will play a significant role in the development of solutions for the workforce shortages experienced by the profession.
During National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week, April 20-26, we honor the more than nearly 2000 medical laboratory professionals across Minnesota who perform and interpret lab tests that save lives and keep people healthy.
For more information contact:
Michelle Briski, Department Chair
Medical Laboratory Program
e-mail Michelle Briski
Jim Brown
Saint Paul College
e-mail Jim Brown
Tim Burke
Public Relations Manager
Allina Hospitals and Clinics
e-mail Timothy Burke
