April 27, 2007

CONTACT: Katie F. Free, Communications & Marketing, Wallace State
Community College, 256/352-8033, katie.free@wallacestate.edu



Wallace State Students Celebrate National Medical Laboratory
Professionals Week



Hanceville, Ala.--Students in the Wallace State Clinical Laboratory
Technician program held an open house recently to celebrate National
Medical Laboratory Professionals Week. National Medical Laboratory
Professionals Week recognizes the approximately 265,000 medical
laboratory professionals and 15,000 board-certified pathologists who
play a vital role in every aspect of health care nationwide.



Wallace State students set up exhibits in the laboratory and performed
demonstrations. Visitors were able to view a variety of examples
including lung tissue samples from a smoker with lung cancer, sickle
cell anemia, leukemia and ragweed pollen grains through microscopes in
the lab.

Wallace State Clinical Laboratory Technician student Sarah
Barnett of Vinemont demonstrates the procedure for drawing blood with
fellow student Javad Allaftajer of Huntsville.


"Our goal with this event is to educate people about this profession,"
said Wallace State Clinical Laboratory Technician program director Julie
Welch. "Few people know that this profession exists, but lab
technicians play a vital role in helping physicians diagnose diseases
every day."



Graduates of the program at Wallace State must take national registry
and certification exams and enjoy a 100 percent job placement rate, with
many receiving job offers before graduation. Some continue their
education by pursuing bachelor's and master's degrees in Clinical
Laboratory Science.



"You can go anywhere in the world and work in a medical lab," said
Welch. "Our graduates are not afraid of a challenge after finishing
this program."



For more information on the Clinical Laboratory Technician program at
Wallace State, contact Welch at 256/352-8347 or
julie.welch@wallacestate.edu. Registration for the summer semester at
Wallace State is underway. Classes begin May 25.

  Kristen Holmes
  Director, Communications and Marketing
  Wallace State Community College
  P.O. Box 2000
  Hanceville, AL 35077
  256/352-8118
  E-mail: Kristen.Holmes@WallaceState.edu