The Medical Technology Page

at

Central Michigan University

(Revised 20 March 2002)

Advisor : Ajit Sharma, Ph.D., SC (ASCP) Dow 346 Department of Chemistry Phone: 989-774-3303 E-mail: sharm1a@cmich.edu

Overview

Central Michigan University's medical technology major is a flexible undergraduate curriculum that

emphasizes a strong science foundation to prepare you for careers in the health professions such as clinical laboratory

science, medicine, cardiovascular perfusion, anesthesiologist assistants, etc. There are over 40 careers in healthcare.

The revolutionary advances in biological, chemical and physical sciences is having a major impact on the medicine of tomorrow. For example,

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is based on a chemistry technique called nuclear magnetic resonance (which you will study in Organic

Chemistry classes e.g. CHM 345/346), many powerful therapeutic drugs of the future will be protein-based (you will learn all about proteins

in Biochemistry e.g. CHM 421/425/521/522) and understanding diseases and their treatment requires a knowledge of events that occur

at the molecular level (courses like Immunology, Genetics, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Anatomy and Physiology are essential for this).

In summary, it is important that as an undergraduate student pursuing a career in healthcare,the best

thing you can do to be prepared is to build a strong science foundation.

This is critical so that you may understand advanced biomedical science courses like Pathophysiology (study of disease), solve complex

qualitative and quantitative problems and readily obtain, manage and utilize information by state-of the-art information technology.

Some of the key strengths of the Medical Technology curriculum include:

* Provides a strong science foundation that satisfies most post-baccalaurate programs in healthcare professions. You take basic

courses in Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics as well as advanced courses in Biology and Chemistry.

* Computer skills / information technology

Many of the courses require you to use various computer programs (e.g. analyzing statistical data, drawing simple and complex graphs)

and computer training is readily available without cost, and state-of-the-art hardware and software is available throughout the Science

departments and the university.

* Scientific information

Medical technology students take a rigorous coursework in biology and chemistry with many laboratories.

* Clinical skills

MT students have to take specialized clinical classes such as medical microbiology, clinical chemistry,

blood banking, hematology, immunology, medical parasitology.

* Real life experience

Many MT students work or volunteer at the local hospital or clinical laboratories to get a real experience

of their chosen career. In addition, students attend seminars offered at the university and through associations such as the Central Michigan

Association of Medical Technologists.

Required Courses (Credit hours) (Note: UP classes are not listed)

Suggested Course Plan

The following is an example of a degree map that a typical student may follow (UP course requirements are not shown)

Clubs at Central Michigan University/ Mid-Michigan region.

The Medical Technology Club is open to any student interested in the area of biomedical science. Please contact the President (Amanda Harvey; 774-5109)

and visit the site Office of Student Life for more details.

It is strongly recommended that you join the Central Michigan Association for Medical Technologists (CMAMT). This organization meets once a

month during the Fall and Spring semesters (presently at the Embers Restaurant in Mt. Pleasant). Dinner (optional) is offered for a small fee

followed by a seminar in Laboratory Medicine.

Applying for Clinical Laboratory Science (CLS) Internships

After completing your degree requirements, you may apply to an internship site which accepts "4+1" students. The sites listed below are currently accepting students for CLS internships in Michigan.

Clinical Sites (Internship Programs) in Michigan 2002-2003

Out-of-state clinical sites

Please see the American Medical Association Health Professions Education Directory (latest year)

for site availability in various states and contact information. This manual is available at CMU Library Reference Section.

Some sites that our students have applied are listed below:

Steps in applying for CLS internships:

1. In your junior year, obtain application forms from internship sites. Complete and send them in.

2. Go for your interviews.

3. Go to the MTIMPM website for details on application process, forms to fill etc. and download computer match forms.

4.Fill these forms and give them to your University Medical Technology Advisor, preferably in November.

5. Forms from all students will be gathered and sent to MTIMPM.

6. Results of your placement will be announced around Jan/Feb.

7. Every 2-3 weeks, please check the Medical Technology Bulletin Board in front of my office (Dow 345) for updates on clinical sites available in Michigan and out-of-state!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What can I do to be successfull in obtaining an internship in CLS?

An internship site in CLS is NOT GUARANTEED. Directors of clinical sites look for various strengths that students have in order to become a competent clinical laboratory scientist. Some of these include:

1. A goodoverall GPA, as well as science (Biology & Chemistry) GPA.

2. Some clinical experience - you may get this by working (or volunteering) in a clinical laboratory (during Summer); getting trained and certified as a phlebotomist (a person who obtains blood from patients).

3. Knowledge of the Profession - you should learn about the profession by attending seminars (e.g. CMAMT), joining the Medical-Technology Club,obtaining clinical experience etc.

2. What if I do not get a CLS internship?

It is always important to have options. The Medical Technology curriculum prepares you for many health care programs.

Here are some options you may want to consider if you do not get a CLS internship or become interested in a related career:

1. Apply to a Master's program in Clinical Laboratory Science.

2. Apply to a post-baccalaureate Clinical Laboratory Science program (list of available sites are posted on MT Bulletin Board at Dow 345).

3. Apply for an internship in other clinical laboratory science areas such as Histotechnology

and Cytotechnology (please also visit the following sites for more information)

a. the ASCP site and

b. The William Beaumont Hospital site http://www.beaumont.edu/alliedhealth

4. Pursue post-baccalaureate programs in other health professions. Examples include medical school, physician

assistants, cardiovascular technologist, anesthesiologist Assistant, perfusionist,etc. To get more information

on perfusionist as a career, go to AmSECT site; to learn more about anesthesiologist assistant as a career, go

to the American Academy of Anesthesiologists' Assistants site. We also have a book HEALTH PROFESSIONS EDUCATION DIRECTORY published by the American Medical Association in the reference section of CMU's library (get the latest edition). This is a great resource for looking at health careers that require a strong science background and that you may not be aware of !

To get more information on other health professions, please also link to this really nice site http://www.nepaahec.org/healthcareers/info.html

Important Links

American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP)

MTIMPM

http://www.nepaahec.org/healthcareers/info.html

Interesting Links

Please share some interesting links in medical technology by e-mailing me their web address. THANKS!

1. National Credentialling Agency

2. American Medical Technologists

3. American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians

4. National Accreditating Agency for Clinical Laboratory Scientists

5. American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science

6. Advance for Medical Laboratory Personnel

7. American Association for Clinical Chemistry