Missouri Western recently completed its first year of an agreement with Heartland Health in St. Joseph and the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha that benefits students in Missouri Western’s medical technology degree program. One student completed the program this past spring, and a second will begin this summer. Dr. Ben Caldwell, professor of chemistry, coordinated the agreement for Missouri Western.
Students in the medical technology program (also known as clinical laboratory science), must complete a one-year clinical experience in a hospital laboratory as a requirement of the degree and national certification, and with the agreement, Missouri Western students have a better chance of being accepted into a clinical program.
The university already has partnerships with hospitals in the Kansas City area where students complete clinicals, but Ben noted that Missouri Western students are competing for those clinical spots with students from several universities. But the two spots as part of the UNMC and Heartland agreement are reserved exclusively for Missouri Western students.
As part of the agreement, medical technology majors complete three years at Missouri Western, then participate in an 11-week student laboratory phase at UNMC in the summer, and then spend the following academic year in Heartland’s laboratory while taking online courses through UNMC. At Heartland, students rotate through the four laboratory units two times as part of their clinical experience: chemistry, hematology, blood bank and microbiology. In addition, they complete courses in Immunology, Laboratory Management and Laboratory Theory, Application and Correlation.
Felicia Coe ’12, was the first Missouri Western student to be accepted into the program since the agreement was signed. She completed her clinical experience at Heartland this past spring and was hired in its laboratory full-time. “Heartland personnel were very kind and welcoming, and the UNMC faculty were great to work with, too,” Felicia said.
Having the yearlong clinical experience at a local facility worked well for Felicia, Ben noted, because she could still live on campus and serve as a resident assistant in the residence halls.
Melissa McBride began her clinical in Omaha in June and started in Heartland’s laboratory in August. “I’m a little nervous, but it’s exciting,” she said. “It’s a new place and new people and I’m close to finishing my degree.”
Melissa was also accepted into Heartland’s Stepping Stones program, where she commits to working there for two years when she completes her degree and Heartland pays for her last year of education. She is the first medical technology student to participate in Stepping Stones.
All parties agree the first year went well. “The people at Heartland were super,” said Linda Fell, program director of the clinical laboratory science program at UNMC. “I love the Missouri Western people, too. They are just great.”
Felicia Coe and Melissa McBride
“Ben Caldwell has been an excellent person for the university,” said Cherryl Morrow, team leader for the laboratory at Heartland. “I really appreciate working with him.”
Heartland initiated the idea for the agreement with UNMC and Missouri Western because of its need for qualified applicants for the position. “It’s a win-win for Heartland and the university,” Cherryl said. “We hope those we train will stay with Heartland.” She noted that in the next five years, half of the medical technologists across the country will be retiring, so there is a high demand for laboratory personnel.
UNMC currently has agreements with five universities, including the University of Missouri-Columbia; and 18 hospital partners.
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