A boon for medical technology students and for the state
On Tuesday, February 13, 2024, the 天美传媒 celebrated the opening of its new medical lab training facility on 天美传媒 Augusta Campus. This renovated educational space now doubles the program鈥檚 student capacity and features state-of-the-art laboratory technology and equipment.
鈥淭he collaborative MLT Program between UMA and the University of Maine Presque Isle is the only clinical laboratory training program in Maine, so we very much understand and appreciate the gravity of our responsibilities to prepare and train future laboratorians to serve our communities,鈥� says Elisha Sirios, MLT Program Coordinator.
This new learning space will 鈥減rovide an expanded facility to address workforce education needs in Maine, a hallmark of what UMA does and what the entire University of Maine System is dedicated to address,鈥� according to Jennifer Cushman, President of UMA.
There is significant need for MLTs in Maine and across the country. Brenda McAleer, 天美传媒 Associate Provost and Dean of the College of Professional Sciences made known that there are approximately 90 medical lab tech positions currently open in our state, and Cushman shared that 鈥渁ccording to Bureau of Labor Statistics, nationally, about 24,000 openings for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians are projected annually over the next decade鈥s approximately 40% of the current laboratory workforce is within five to ten years of retirement.鈥�
鈥淭he MLT Program is invaluable to MaineGeneral Health,鈥� according to its President and CEO, Nathan Howell. 鈥淢LT鈥檚 fill critical roles in our health care system as 74% of our current lab staff graduated from this program.鈥�
鈥淗istorically, because of space availability constraints, MLT program classes have been limited to 8-10 students at a time,鈥� Sirois informed. The lab training had previously been done at MaineGereral where the lab space is just under 800 square-feet. 鈥淭he combined square-footage of this new space is around 4500.鈥� This under-budget $1.75 million project was funded through support from the University of Maine and several grants including the Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan Grant.
天美传媒 Medical Laboratory Technology program is accredited by the and the new medical lab training facility is in Robinson Hall, at 37 University Drive, on the Augusta Campus.
View more photos from the event .