As the demand for skilled healthcare professionals continues to rise, Wytheville Community College (WCC) is proud to highlight the successes of its Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) program. Providing comprehensive training and education, the MLT program at WCC offers students a pathway to rewarding careers in the healthcare industry.
“WCC’s Medical Laboratory Technology program is perfect for students who want a hands-on career in healthcare but may not necessarily want to be a nurse or want to have a lot of patient contact. The lab is the perfect place for them,” said Dawn Warren, WCC’s Medical Laboratory Technology Program Head. “One of the main things that a physician uses to diagnose a patient is a lab test. That’s what we do. We provide those results,” Warren said. “Aside from hospital labs, students have more opportunities than I think they are aware of. There are research labs, pharmaceutical company labs, veterinary labs, and reference labs.”
Dawn Warren, WCC Program Head, Medical Laboratory Technology; and Laura Midkiff Meredith, WCC MLT graduate.
Laura Midkiff Meredith graduated from the MLT program at WCC in 2022. After completing the program, Laura received an offer to work in a local hospital. She said, “My favorite department in the lab is hematology. I love making blood smears and looking at the cells. What I really love is that each night, I see something new that always keeps me learning. The WCC MLT program has given me the strengths I need to help me succeed in this career as a laboratory technician. I was taught how to effectively and successfully carry through with patient care and given the core knowledge to be successful as a laboratory assistant.”
According to recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians was $57,380.00 in May 2022, and employment of clinical laboratory technologists and technicians is projected to grow 5 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations” (https:/www.bls.gov/).
“We are very fortunate to have a fully accredited Medical Laboratory Technology program at Wytheville Community College,” said Betty Elmore, marketing specialist with LifePoint Health. “Graduates who obtain this degree have an opportunity to work in the healthcare field right here in the communities where they live. Having this degree equips graduates for employment in medical labs in the hospital setting and as far-reaching as the pharmaceutical industry and other
agencies that require a Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT). The demand for MLTs and their services helps fill a shortage that we are seeing in the healthcare industry.”
WCC has several healthcare programs in addition to Medical Laboratory Technology including Dental Hygiene, Nursing (RN), Nursing Advanced Placement (LPN-RN Bridge), Physical Therapy Assistant, and Practical Nursing. The deadline to apply to these programs is March 15, 2024. Financial aid and scholarships are available for qualified students.
For more information about the Medical Laboratory Technology program or other WCC healthcare programs, please visit https://www.wcc.vccs.edu/health-professions, or contact Hunter Jackson, WCC Health Professions Recruitment and Enrollment Specialist, at (276) 223-4741, or [email protected].
