Thursday, February 19, 2009

ASU closing Med Tech program in cuts to science courses

In this day and age, closing off a source of vital job training is silly. It's a crying shame when that closure comes at the hands of a supposed institute of higher learning, which I imagine Arizona State University fancies itself.

At any rate, received this email from the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP) today:
DON'T CLOSE THE DOOR ON LABORATORY EDUCATION

Nationwide Campaign to Save ASU's CLS/MT Program


Tell Board of Regents, University Leadership:
Don't Close ASU's Clinical Laboratory Sciences/Medical Technology Program
Arizona State, Others Closing Doors to Laboratory Education


ASCP urges all members of the laboratory team to help!
Take a few minutes to help halt the closure of Arizona State University's ASU's CLS/MT program: send a message that laboratory professionals are critical to the health care team and that the documented shortage of laboratory professionals is reason to keep training programs open!

Visit http://capwiz.com/ascpath/issues/alert/?alertid=12713266&type=CU
There are approximately 15,000 open positions for Medical Technologists in the United States. Some states, such as Oklahoma, don't have university Med Tech programs so it's not that Med Techs are being churned out in massive numbers. However, more students are getting certified as laboratory professionals through technical colleges and distance learning programs, like this one that offers online health science programs and degrees. The growing for-profit education sector accounts for some of the lack of interest by many health science departments in medical technologist programs. I'm not sure if ASU…. I'm not sure if ASU is the only Arizona school with a B.S. degree Med Tech program, however even if it were not ... closing it down is still a big mistake IMNSHO. If you think so too, click the link and send those emails out (actually the site does it for you, you just put in your information).

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I recently saw President Michael Crow's letter was posted at ASCP website. Unfortunately the letter was inaccurate in many details including the size of the graduating classes and the size of faculty. This is partially due to the fact that many people who are in the Clinical Laboratory Science program already have a bachelor degree and are completing the program for certification. These people do not calculate in to graduated class total as they are not graduating but even not counting these students the number President Crow sets is too low.

The loss of this program would be a detriment to the school and the community especially as this is the last accredited program in the state of Arizona. I will admit that the program has a high cost per student when compared to some degrees however I think that cost must be balanced by the good it will provide the community. After all this is a state university and it main purpose is not to make money but to provide and produce the educated workforce the state so desperately needs.

I hope those who wrote will not be disheartened by President Crow's words as I know that the director and professor of the program as well as many others such as myself will continue to fight to keep this program going. I hope that those who have supported the program and its fight will continue to and that with commitment the President of Arizona State University and its regents will change their course.

Tom said...

Anonymous,

Hopefully ASU eventually sees the light and reverses course. The program won't officially close until 2011, so there is always hope!