History of the Program

The University of Minnesota has one of the oldest baccalaureate degree granting Medical Technology programs in the United States, with its first two students graduating in 1923. By the 1940's, the Medical Technology Program had increased to average 60 graduates per year, with a maximum number of 78 graduates in 1947. Since that time, approximately 2750 individuals have completed the program (1923-2002), making this University one of the primary educators of Medical Technologists in the state and nation.

In the 1950's, the Division designed and implemented the first certified laboratory assistant program. This program was later transferred to the St. Paul Technical College as an medical laboratory technician (MLT) program. It was also during this time, faculty members Esther Freier and Verna Rausch published the first article on quality control for clinical laboratories (Am. J. Med. Tech. 1958).

In the 1960's, the program demonstrated leadership in medical technology education in many ways. During this time, the Division developed the first Master of Science graduate program in Medical Technology. There have been 132 graduates of this program since the first M.S. Degree was awarded in 1962. In 1965, the program also became the first to institute an 3honors2 course in a Medical Technology curriculum.

Alumni of this program include six individuals who have been elected President of the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS) formerly the American Society for Medical Technology (ASMT): Ruth Hovde (1955-1956), Ruth Heinemann (1959-1960), Verna Rausch (1966-1976), Nancy Preuss (1975-1976), Donna Meyer (1987-1988), and Karen Karni (1997-1998). In 1983, alumna and faculty member Ruth Hovde became the first medical technologist to receive an honorary doctoral degree (Thomas Jefferson University). The alumni of the University of Minnesota's Medical Technology Program have always been strong supporters of their alma mater. In 1994, the alumni of medical technology had the highest participation rate of donations to the annual fund drive of all units of the University of Minnesota with 41% of the program alumni making donations to the program.

In 1989, the first endowed professorship in Medical Technology--the Mildred King Rohwer Endowed Professorship was established at the University of Minnesota. This professorship became the Mildred King Rohwer Endowed Chair in 2001. A second endowed professorship, the Yvonne Chenoweth Cooke Endowed Professorship, was established in 2000.

In 2000, the Board of Regents approved a Bachelor of Applied Science in Clinical Laboratory Technology degree through the College of Continuing Education at the University of Minnesota. This program is designed to be an articulation program for students who have a two year clinical laboratory technician/medical laboratory technician (CLT/MLT) degree and want to continue their education to become medical technologists/clinical laboratory scientists. In addition to the B.A.S. Degree, a collaborative arrangement between the University of Minnesota's Medical Technology Program and the MnSCU system, particularly St. Cloud State University and Minnesota State University, Mankato was developed. This arrangement allowed MnSCU students to take University of Minnesota medical technology courses their senior year, followed by clinical internships in their geographic region.

In 2007, the Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Clinical Laboratory Science will be discontinued. Also, Medical Technology is moving out of the Medical School to the new Center for Allied Health Programs in the Allied Health Center.