U of M Academic Health Center and Winona State University Launch Clinical Laboratory Sciences Partnership

U hopes to develop more partnerships to help meet the growing work force need in Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (Jan. 7, 2008) -- The University of Minnesota and Winona State University are pleased to jointly announce their clinical laboratory sciences (CLS) partnership, which will begin enrolling students next fall. Senior Vice President of Health Sciences Frank B. Cerra, M.D., and Winona State University President Judith A. Ramaley, Ph.D., have signed the official agreement demonstrating the shared commitment of Minnesota’s higher education institutions to meet the growing health care workforce needs across the state.

“The Academic Health Center is dedicated to educating health care professionals to meet the growing workforce needs of the state,” said Cerra. “This partnership is just one example of the University’s commitment to deliver quality health care resources to the state.”

The University of Minnesota’s Center for Allied Health Programs (CAHP), home to the University’s accredited CLS program, is developing a seamless, learner-centered educational system that students pursuing allied health careers can access throughout Minnesota. The University of Minnesota has one of the oldest baccalaureate CLS programs in the United States, and this new partnership with WSU means more students will be educated in an accredited CLS program that will prepare them for their future health care careers. While this agreement focuses on the universities in Rochester, the next stages of development will expand the CLS program to other university and MnSCU sites across the state through an innovative and creative electronic learning platform.

“The design of the University of Minnesota, Rochester campus permits the use of innovations in technology that add value by improving access for learners, enhancing learning quality, and increasing program efficiency,” said Charles Christiansen, Ph.D., director of the CAHP. “We are pleased to partner with WSU to help address critical laboratory workforce shortages in Minnesota.”

President Ramaley is also pleased with the partnership’s new learning model. “To succeed in this new age, we must combine our strengths to find innovative ways to make a difference in the way we prepare professionals for the health care field and to adapt to the changing needs of our communities,” she said. “The collaboration that brings together Winona State University, the Center for Allied Health Programs, and the University of Minnesota, Rochester demonstrates our commitment to work in new ways with the health care community in developing solutions to meet the needs of the 21st century.”

As of 2005, only two laboratory professionals were entering the CLS field for every seven that retired. At this rate, approximately 25 percent of the CLS work force will retire in the next 10 years, leaving the retiring baby boomer population with fewer laboratory professionals to care for the aging population. This poses a large void for the health care workforce of Minnesota to fill as clinical laboratory scientists perform tests that are critical to the diagnosis and care of patients. The partnership will educate more clinical laboratory scientists to meet the growing need for these medical technologists in health care in the state of Minnesota.

“There is a critical shortage of health care professionals, especially in the area of clinical laboratory science,” said Steven Lehmkuhle, Ph.D., chancellor of the University of Minnesota, Rochester. “The partnership announced today launches a new, collaborative approach that creates greater access and delivers programming in clinical lab science areas in a more efficient manner. I am both supportive of its effort and pleased to provide state-of-the-art facilities to move ahead and meet this challenging shortage of laboratory professionals,” he added. Christine Quinn, associate vice president for Winona State University – Rochester added, “By creating innovative approaches to learning and clinical practice, this partnership will also result in improved patient care.”

The Academic Health Center is home to the University of Minnesota’s six health professional schools and colleges as well as several health-related centers and institutes. Founded in 1851, the University is one of the oldest and largest land grant institutions in the country. The AHC prepares the new health professionals who improve the health of communities, discover and deliver new treatments and cures, and strengthen the health economy.

Contact:  Laura Stroup, Academic Health Center, 612-624-5680 or stro0481@umn.edu
Cristeen Custer, Winona State University, 507-457-2569 or  ccuster@winona.edu