DAWNA TORRES MUGHAL, PH.D., R.D., Program Director
Medical technologists are problem-solvers, dealing with the complexities and outcomes of
medicine and science. They provide invaluable service to patient care by performing a wide
range of laboratory tests, confirming the accuracy of test results, and reporting the test results
to the pathologists and other physicians. Medical technologists work in blood banking,
chemistry, hematology, immunology, and microbiology. They apply their solid foundation in
the sciences and laboratory education to the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases.
Practice settings for medical technologists include hospitals, independent laboratories, clinics,
public health agencies, and industries. Molecular diagnostics, molecular biotechnology
companies, and other specialized laboratories offer additional career opportunities.
Experienced medical technologists have opportunities to advance their career by specializing
in certain areas, such as cell marker technology, bioengineering and cancer research, drug
testing, therapeutic drug monitoring and biogenetics. Industry offers career opportunities in
product development, marketing, sales, and quality assurance.
Currently, the demand for medical technologists far exceeds the supply of educated
professionals qualified to work in such jobs. With continued population growth and medical
advances, the need for laboratory science professionals is expected to increase.
The goal of the Medical Technology Program is to provide a solid program of study that
qualifies students for admission to a hospital-based program for clinical or laboratory
education. The mission of Gannon is inherent in this goal. The program involves three years
of study at Gannon and a fourth year of clinical or laboratory education at a hospital-based
medical technology program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical
Laboratory Science (NAACLS). Currently, through an agreement for educational purposes,
Gannon is affiliated with the medical technology programs of Saint Vincent Health Center,
Erie, Pennsylvania; Conemaugh Valley Hospital, Johnstown, Pennsylvania; and W.C.A.
Hospital, Jamestown, New York. Students may apply to any hospital having an accredited
medical technology program in the United States even though Gannon is not affiliated with
that program.
Students who complete Gannon's three-year academic requirements and successfully complete
their fourth year of studies (approximately 12 months) at an accredited medical technology
program will be awarded the Bachelor of Science degree with a major in medical technology.
Selection of students for admission to the hospital laboratory program is based primarily on
grade point average (GPA) (minimum 3.0). Students with low GPA, therefore, especially in the
sciences, may not be accepted by the hospitals for the laboratory portion of the program. In
general, students apply for admission to hospital-based programs during fall semester of their
junior year and upon acceptance, begin their clinical education the following summer. Students
will have completed all their prerequisite courses prior to their clinical education. Because the
programs have different calendars, it is important for students to obtain information from
programs as early as possible. The program director at Gannon assists students with the
application process; however, the university does not guarantee admission of students to the
hospital-based programs. These programs conduct their own selection process. While students
are completing their laboratory education, they are considered students of Gannon. However,
they are also governed by the academic policies of their laboratory education program.
Directors of affiliated medical technology programs send students' grades to Gannon to be
recorded on the students' transcripts. Following a typical 3 +1 curriculum, students graduate in
summer immediately following completion of their laboratory education.
Graduates are eligible to take a national certification test given by the Board of Registry of the
American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP). Those who pass the exam may use the
initials, MT (ASCP) after their name, showing proficiency in the field.
The following course descriptions are for the courses offered by the hospital's Medical
Technology Program. Hospitals' programs may have different course titles.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS:
MDTC 410: Hematology and Coagulation
6 credits
The course includes a study of the blood and blood forming tissues and their relation to the
care of patients as they are correlated with the entire clinical condition.
MDTC 420: Clinical Chemistry (includes instrumentation and RIA)
8 credits
This course includes a brief review of analytical chemistry and qualitative analysis and
stresses the chemistry of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, endocrinology, vitamins, hormones,
enzymes, etc., and the physiology, metabolisms, and methodologies used in the study of these
substances in relation to biologic processes as found in health and pathologic states. Clinical
correlation is made with the various situations in which the substances are altered.
MDTC 430: Immunchematology and Blood Banking
4 credits
Immunchematology emphasizes the application of principles of red cell antigens which are
detectable only by the reactivity of red cells with antibodies corresponding to the antigens.
Topics include ABO groupings, Rh factor, and numerous other blood group systems. These
are all correlated with the compatibility of transfused blood and the various procedures
needed to test for this compatibility.
MDTC 440: Urinalysis
2 credits
The course considers the examination of urine and all other body fluids, such as cerebral
spinal fluid, feces, gastric fluid, seminal fluid, amniotic fluid, etc. Emphasis is placed on
anatomy and physiology of the kidney and urinary system, methodologies, clinical
correlation, kidney function tests, microscopic examination and urinary calculi.
MDTC 450: Microbiology (includes mycology, parasitology, virology and microbiology)
8 credits
The course includes the study of the various micro-organisms, i.e. bacteria, fungi, rickettsia,
parasites, and viruses recovered in clinical material. The critical identifying characteristics of
the organisms, the diseases with which they are commonly associated, and the sites from
which they are commonly isolated are presented. Fluorescent microscopy and its application
to identification of micro-organisms is presented.
MDTC 460: Immunology and Serology
4 credits
The course encompasses the serologic reactions employed in the diagnosis of bacterial,
parasitic, rickettsial, and viral diseases. The principles of antigen-antibody reactions are
developed and the various procedures including agglutination, flocculation, precipitation,
and complement fixation are stressed.
MDTC 470: Medical Technology Education
0 credit
Basic principles of education to include lecture presentation and preparation, writing
behavioral objectives, toxonomy levels, curriculum development, and evaluation procedures
are presented. Each student is required to give one lecture to include outline, objectives, and
some form of evaluation.
MDTC 480: Management and Supervision
0 credit
Principles of management techniques, budget, personnel practices, laboratory supplies,
procurement of equipment. Federal and State Regulations, lab safety, medical/legal matters,
and psychology of management are presented.
Medical Technology Curriculum
(Numerals in front of courses indicate credits)
FRESHMAN
First Semester
3 Molecular Cellular Biology/BIOL 122
1 Molecular Cellular Lab/BIOL 123
3 General Chemistry I/CHEM 111
1 General Chemistry I Lab/CHEM 112
3 College Algebra/MATH 111
3 College Composition/LENG 111
3 Psychology/PSYC 111
17
Second Semester
3 Animal Form & Function/BIOL 124
1 Animal Form & Funct Lab/BIOL 125
3 General Chemistry II/CHEM 114
1 General Chem Lab II/CHEM 115
3 Trigonometry/MATH 112
3 Hist of West & World/LHST 111
3 Crit Analysis & Comp/LENG 112
17
SOPHOMORE
First Semester
2 Microbiology I/BIOL 331
2 Microbiology Lab/BIOL 332
3 Organic Chemistry I/CHEM 221
1 Organic Chemistry I Lab/CHEM 222
3 Introduction to Philosophy/LPHI 131
3 Literature Series/LENG
3 Sacred Scriptures/LTHE 121
17
Second Semester
2 Clinical Microbiology/BIOL 336
2 Clinical Microbiology Lab/BIOL 337
3 Organic Chemistry II/CHEM 224
1 Organic Chemistry II Lab/CHEM 225
3 Social Science
3 Theology II Series/LTHE
3 Parasitology/BIOL 354
1 Parasitology Lab/BIOL 355
18
JUNIOR
First Semester
3 General Physics I/PHYS 105
1 General Physics I Lab/PHYS 106
3 Structural Biochemistry/CHEM 366
1 Biochemistry Laboratory/CHEM 367
3 Philosophy II Series/LPHI
3 Fine Art Series/LFIN
3 Theology or Phil III Series/LTHE or LPHI
17
Second Semester
3 Genetics/BIOL 345
3 General Physics II/PHYS 108
1 General Physics II Lab/PHYS 109
3 Elective
3 Senior Seminar/LBST 383
3 Immunology/BIOL 338
1 Immunology Lab/BIOL 339
17
*Recommended Electives: Statistics course (Applied Statistics/MATH 213, Psych Statistics/PSYC 211,
or Statistics for the Social Sciences/SOCI 351) and Computer Information Science Course. Consult the
Program Director regarding electives.
Hospital Phase (12 months):
SENIOR
First Semester
6 Hematology & Coagulation/MDTC 410
8 Clinical Chemistry/MDTC 420
4 Immunohematology/MDTC 430
18
Summer
0 Medical Technology Education/MDTC 470
0 Management & Supervision/MDTC 480
0
Second Semester
2 Urinalysis/MDTC 440
8 Microbiology/MDTC 450
4 Immunology & Serology/MDTC 460
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