LeeAnn Rahe always knew that one day she wanted to pursue a career in healthcare-preferably as a medical laboratory technician.
Unfortunately, for years two significant obstacles stood in the way of her pursuing that dream: her secure-yet unfulfilling-job as a military contractor and the lack of no MLT degree programs near where she lived.
Although Rahe had worked there for 10 years, her job had begun to feel like a black hole that was leaving her feeling utterly defeated. Rahe didn’t think she could leave her contractor job “because the pay was very good for someone with no college degree.”
However, her dream of working in healthcare was revitalized in 2019 when she learned that Hocking College was starting an MLT program.
Rahe immediately contacted the college to begin the application process.
While she admits that some of her classes were challenging, she said her instructors were always available to provide her with the tools and resources she needed to cover each subject in great depth.
One of the instructors Rahe leaned on for support was MLT Program Manager Kim Ephlin.
She said Ephlin “was always there for me and encouraged me to study harder and never give up” when obstacles and personal challenges arose.
Rahe also valued the hands-on work experience she obtained through her clinical classes during her second and third semesters. In particular, she recalled how impressed the hospital staff was by her preparedness and professionalism.
Rahe is nearly ready to start her last round of clinical classes before graduating from Hocking College. In addition, she and her family have moved out of state, where she’s already accepted a job in an industry she only once dreamed of working in.
Rahe said she “would absolutely recommend this program to other people interested in the healthcare industry.”
Medical laboratory technicians are the laboratory’s generalists. They are trained in a two-year associate degree program at a community college, hospital, trade or vocational school, and work under the supervision of pathologists or laboratory technologists/scientists.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the employment of medical laboratory technicians and scientists will increase by 16% through the year 2024.
There’s currently a nationwide-shortage of working laboratory professionals.
According to the latest bi-annual survey performed by the American Society for Clinical Pathology, laboratory professions are seeing a range of vacancy rates, from about 5% for anatomic pathology departments to roughly 9% for chemistry departments.
Students who enroll in Hocking College’s medical lab technician program can obtain their Associate of Applied Science in Laboratory Sciences in only two years. The program provides students with the skills they need to collect samples and perform tests to analyze blood and bodily fluids. Students also participate in practicums at local medical laboratories.
For entrance into Hocking College’s MLT program, students need a high school transcript or GED, complete both the first semester courses and the TEAS V exam, a physical and have up-to-date immunization and vaccinations.
Some of the other benchmarks prospective students need to meet:
To participate in a medical laboratory science educational program, students must be able to comply with program-designated essential functions or request reasonable accommodations to execute them. The essential functions are:
Potential students interested in this program should contact the MLT Program Manager
Kimberly Ephlin, MHA/ED, MT(ASCP), RMA(AMT), MA: