AS Medical Laboratory Technology :: UNM Gallup | The University of New Mexico

About

AS Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT)

The MLT Program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS 5600 N. River Rd, Suite 720 Rosemont IL 60018-5119; ph: 773.714.8880; fx: 773.714.8886; info@naacls.org; www.naacls.org) since 1986. Articulation for the Bachelor's Degree is in place. A student successfully completing the program is eligible to take the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification examination.

Mission Statement

The University of New Mexico - Gallup Medical Laboratory Technology Program develops lifelong learners to be clinically competent and culturally sensitive professionals delivering diagnostic testing services to clients within our rural health care setting.

While the program is relatively small, its presence has prevented a chronic shortage of laboratory professionals in our area while providing much needed employment opportunities for residents of the region.

The MLT Program aims to continue helping students fulfill their potential and become productive members of society, thereby improving the quality of life for both themselves and the community they serve.

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Students

Information for Current and Future Students

Before You Apply

Review the Before You Apply Document

Employment Opportunities

There’s a very high demand for MLTs in our local and surrounding areas. Many of our graduates find employment immediately after graduation. Most were employed in hospitals, others were in medical and diagnostic laboratories, physicians' offices, and federal government.

In 2016, medical laboratory professionals held about 335,700 jobs in the US. (www.bls.gov)

Starting Salaries

The starting salary for MLTs vary significantly depending on the location. Please see the following websites for more information:

Why MLT?

Why MLT at UNM-Gallup?

UNM-Gallup MLT Program provides potential students the opportunity to obtain an associate’s degree and find employment locally.

The MLT Program maintains a relatively small class size to ensure closer attention and to enhance instruction and learning especially in laboratory activities.

Students and graduates benefit most from the NAACLS-accredited MLT Program. Students receive instruction that meet national standards. All instructors are nationally approved. Graduates can transition smoothly to a Bachelor’s Program in the US, and are eligible to take the ASCP Board of Certification exam.

Now is the best time to pursue a career in the medical laboratory profession. A high percentage of laboratorians in the US are retiring; thus, the need for new MLTs is significantly increasing.

Learn @ UNM-G

What will you learn?

MLT students will learn to:

Collect blood samples by venipuncture and capillary puncture methods; learn the proper collection and criteria for rejection of other clinical specimens.
Operate laboratory equipment, such as microscopes, centrifuge, cell washers, incubators, analyzers.
Analyze clinical specimens, such as blood, urine, and other body fluids, and record results.
Test compatibility of patient and donor blood samples for transfusions by identifying the blood type, screening for unexpected antibodies, crossmatching, etc.
Describe, identify and quantitate blood and body fluid cell types, both normal and abnormal.
Perform microbial culture of clinical specimens and antibiotic susceptibility tests.
Interpret results and findings of laboratory tests and procedures (but not provide clinical diagnosis; physicians must correlate lab results with other clinical findings)
Work independently and collaboratively with classmates/co-workers/instructors/supervisors.

Faculty

Contact us. We are here to help.

Corine Gonzales, MS, MT(ASCPⁱ)

MLT Program Director

(505) 863-7598
Health Careers Center Room 131
gonzalesc@unm.edu

Phyllis Ingham, EdD. MEd. MT(ASCP)

Adjunct MLT Faculty (online instruction)

inghamn@unm.edu

Outcome Measures

UNM-Gallup MLT Program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). The following outcome measures are calculated based on NAACLS benchmarks.

I. Graduation Rate

NAACLS benchmark: Three years consecutive results of graduation rates demonstrating an average of at least 70% of students who have begun the final half of the program (clinical practicum semester) go on to successfully graduate from the program as calculated by the most recent three year period.

Graduation Rate calculated based on NAACLS benchmark FY14-15 TO FY16-17

100%

II. Certification Exam Pass Rate

NAACLS benchmark: Three years consecutive results of graduate certification rates demonstrating an average of at least 75% pass rate on the ASCP-BOC examinations, for those who take the exam within the first year of graduation as calculated by the most recent three year period.

National Certification Exam Pass Rate based on NAACLS benchmark (FY14-15 to FY16-17)

75%

(for program graduates who took the exam within 12 months of graduation)

2017 National Certification Exam Pass Rate based on American Society for Clinical Pathology Program Performance Report