WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., May 10, 2018 — West Liberty University’s Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) seniors were on the other side of the needle recently as they enjoyed their first Pinning Ceremony on the morning of May 5, in the Interfaith Chapel.
“It was a happy moment for our graduating seniors who will graduate this Saturday and we congratulate them on their hard work,” said Dr. William Wagener, program director, who has been at the helm of the program for 24 years.
Spring 2018 graduates include Emily Anderson, Glen Dale, W.Va., Abby Bizzarri, Belmont, Ohio, Amber Clingenpeel, Avella, Pa., Jessica McNicholas, Washington, Pa., Erin Schuler and Lindsey Schuler, Wheeling.
Typically many of the Medical Laboratory Science graduates have job offers before they graduate and begin careers immediately after commencement, according to Wagener, who is from Monroeville, Pa. and was a lab supervisor prior to joining WLU. Bonnie Porter is the instructor in MLS and assists Wagener with the program.
One of the most successful programs at WLU, the Medical Laboratory Science program at West Liberty University has provided training for medical laboratory scientists (medical technologists) since 1943. Students must be proficient in hematology, clinical chemistry, microbiology and blood banking to complete the program and pass their board certification exam.
Accredited through the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS), the program is one of the Health Sciences degree options for students interested in the field medicine. It is housed in the College of Sciences in Campbell Hall.
Medical laboratory scientists perform laboratory tests on a variety of body fluids and tissues and are employed in many locations including hospitals, doctor offices and clinics. The result of their work is used by physicians to diagnose and treat disease, maintain and monitor health, and promote health in the community.
Senior-year students rotate through the clinical laboratories of local hospital laboratories and after successful completion of the clinical rotation, students complete the senior level courses required for graduation and to prepare take the Board of Certification (BOC) National Certification Examination.
West Liberty University offers more than 70 undergraduate majors, plus a growing number of graduate programs including master degrees in education, physician assistant studies, biology, professional studies and two online degrees, a master’s in criminology and the MBA. For more information, please call 1.866.937.8542 (WESTLIB).