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Medical lab programs offer more options to GHC students

By Maria Ceasar
[email protected]
Staff Writer Bobby Poston (left), a medical technology major from Cartersville, performs lab work under the direction of Shannon Collins, MLT coordinator.

Georgia Highlands offers healthcare degree programs in Medical Lab Technology, Histology and Health Information Technology in cooperation with Darton College.

These programs create options for students wishing to pursue a career in the medical field other than nursing or dental hygiene.

According to Shannon Collins, MLT clinical coordinator, medical laboratory technicians conduct tests to help detect, diagnose and treat diseases by evaluating test samples of biological materials such as body fluids, tissues and cells.

In order to attain a degree in either of these programs, students must complete prerequisite courses similar to those of the nursing program with a GPA of 2.5 or better. Although students will officially receive their associate degree from Darton College, all classes are offered at GHC. The program takes five semesters to finish. Core classes are taken online and hands-on labs in a hospital prepare students for the field, according to Collins.

These programs generate more options for students who desire to enter the medical field and create a gateway for other healthcare professions. There is a critical need for medical technicians and histologists in medical offices that offer salaries from $30,000 to $40,000 per year.

Students who wish to know more about the medical laboratory programs may contact Collins at (706)368�7763 or through e-mail at [email protected].