U.S. hospitals and other healthcare facilities are facing a critical shortage of qualified laboratory personnel, including medical technologists. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor projects that an estimated 14,000 new medical technologists will be needed each year through the year 2012; however, fewer than 5,000 graduate from accredited training programs each year. This leaves an annual staffing shortfall of 9,800 personnel to meet the increasing demands for laboratory services.

The Medical Technology program is seeking accreditation by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS) in 2007, prior to the graduation of the first class of students to complete the BS degree in Medical Technology. (NAACLS, 8410 W. Bryn Mawr Avenue, Suite 670, Chicago, Illinois 60631-3415; (773) 714-8880).

Admission and Application Procedures

Application to Villa Julie College is made through the college website A weblink is provided to VJC for application materials http://www.vjc.edu.

A complete description of the admission requirements, application procedures and the application form (PDF) for the Medical Technology Program is found at http://www.vjc.edu/academics/medicaltechnology.

This program provides rapid training for individuals who possess a bachelor�s degree in biology, biotechnology, chemistry or other basic science to enter the clinical laboratory workforce. Students who successfully complete all the requirements of the program are eligible to take a national categorical examination for certification as a Categorical Medical Technologist through the American Society for Clinical Pathology and/or the National Credentialing Agency.

An applicant must have obtained a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college/university with a combination of 30 semester hours of biology and chemistry AND successful completion of a structured program in one of the specialty disciplines under the auspices of a NAACLS-accredited Medical Technology Program. The categorical options are: Blood Banking, Chemistry, Hematology and Microbiology.

Medical Technology Curriculum

The following Medical Technology courses are taught on the Sinai Hospital campus. Visit the Villa Julie College website for the curriculum and descriptions of all required courses. Clinical practicum training is offered at LifeBridge Health hospitals or at one of 6 other clinical laboratories located in the Baltimore metropolitan area.

3 credits, Spring

Introduces the principles and practices of research design sufficient to evaluate published studies in the field of clinical laboratory sciences such that research results can be applied to practice. Students will understand how a research study is conceptualized, implemented by the researcher, and disseminated in published format to peers by stating an appropriate research hypothesis, performing a literature search, writing a research proposal and presenting findings as part of a poster session. Most health professionals are also educators in that they may be involved in teaching/training patients, colleagues and/or students. Through participation in the P.A.C.E.-approved course Clinical Laboratory Education, the student will demonstrate an understanding of educational methodologies and their application to clinical education to begin to prepare them for their role as an educator.

Prerequisites: ENG 215 and senior year status in the MT program.

MT 405-Transfusion Medicine

Discusses the theoretical and practical concepts of blood banking and transfusion medicine. Introductory topics include donor screening and selection, basic blood group serology, component processing and therapeutic use, hemolytic disease of the newborn, adverse reactions to transfusion, and quality assurance in the blood bank. Topics for expanded and advanced knowledge include transfusion therapy, adverse complications of transfusion, blood and inventory management, autoimmune hemolytic anemia and regulatory issues in the blood industry. In the laboratory, students perform ABO/Rh grouping, antibody screening, compatibility testing, and basic antibody identification on wet samples, as well as, component preparation and issue of simulated blood components.

Prerequisites: MT 310 and MT 338

MT 410-Hematology II

Continuing with the foundation and concepts of MT 310, this course is an advanced study of the pathophysiology, laboratory diagnosis, clinical correlation and peripheral blood identification of quantitative and qualitative white cell disorders, acute and chronic leukemias, and myeloproliferative, myelodysplastic, lymphoproliferative and plasma cell disorders. Cytochemical staining patterns and the World Health Organization leukemia classification in the diagnosis of the acute leukemias are stressed. Information related to anemias (MT 310) is reviewed and recalled through case studies and problem-based learning. Topics in coagulation will cover hemostasis from normal platelet and clotting physiology to disorders in the clotting mechanism, such as platelet, clotting factor and fibrinolytic disorders, therapeutic anticoagulants, pathologic inhibitors, and thrombotic disorders. Laboratory exercises will build on the skills gained in Hematology I and will concentrate on identification of precursor white cells and white cell disorders in peripheral smears. Students will be introduced to bone marrow evaluation and coagulation testing procedures. Flow cytometry will be introduced and integrated as a diagnostic technique for the diagnosis of leukemias.

Prerequisites: MT 310

MT 420-Clinical Microbiology

Uses a specimen approach to the study of diagnostic microbiology, emphasizing the correlation of in vitro and in vivo findings in the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases. The systems of the body will be discussed in terms of anatomy, physiology, normal flora, possible pathogens and related diseases. Students will be familiar with proper specimen collection and handling, and the isolation, identification, including the application of molecular techniques, and treatment of pathogens from various body sites. It also includes the detection and laboratory identification of commonly isolated pathogenic fungi, parasites and viruses. Laboratories are designed to simulate a clinical microbiology laboratory experience by having students work with real or simulated patient cultures. With the laboratory techniques and skills developed in BIO 320 and using the MT 420 Laboratory Manual, the student will be expected to work independently to isolate and identify clinically significant pathogenic microorganisms.

MT 425-Clinical Biochemistry

Studies the application and theory of the methodologies in the clinical area of special chemistry to include toxicology, therapeutic drug monitoring, tumor markers, endocrinology, trace elements, and immunochemistry. The course discusses the relationship of normal and abnormal laboratory findings in organ function tests. There will also be an emphasis on quality control and Six Sigma quality assessment of laboratory processes. Through the use of simulation exercises and team projects, students will gain experience in the development of SOPs (standard operating procedures), reference interval studies, new method or instrument validation studies and proficiency testing programs. Additionally, students will enhance their problem-solving skills in the pre-analytical and post-analytical phases of laboratory testing.

MT 431, MT 432, MT 433, MT 434-Clinical Laboratory Practicum

12 credits, Spring

Applying laboratory theory and techniques in the disciplines of clinical chemistry, hematology, microbiology and immunology, and transfusion medicine through supervised clinical rotations in a clinical laboratory. Students will spend 160 hours/rotation for four rotations.

MT 435-Management Practicum

Putting management theory into practice in the daily operation of the laboratory through the mentoring of a laboratory manager. The student will gain experience in generic management roles common to all affiliates such as personnel scheduling, CAP (College of American Pathologists) inspection preparation, turn around time studies, procedures for laboratory procedure manuals, audits and workload recording, and competency assessment procedures, and perform tasks that are unique to the facility such as instrument comparison studies, method evaluation studies, and patient case management. This course will give the student the opportunity to use the problem-solving and critical thinking skills learned in the classroom. This course is Pass/Fail.

Prerequisite: MT 335 and senior status in the MT program