Thought About Labs?
Do you want to make a difference in peoples' lives? Interested in a career in health care? Ontario's community-based medical laboratories employ thousands of highly skilled knowledge workers. From pathologists to laboratory assistants, each has an important role to play. You could be part of that team.

If you have an interest in science and want to help others, a career in the medical laboratory field may be right for you.

Encouraging young people to pursue careers in the medical laboratory industry is the theme of the OAML's "Thought About Labs?" campaign. Copies of the poster have been distributed to 2,500 science teachers in Ontario's high schools through our partnership with Sci-Tech Ontario and have also been distributed to high school guidance counsellors with their 2004 Ontario School Counsellors Association Directory.

CAREERS //
Medical Laboratory Technologist (MLT)

Working in the highly automated, high tech world of laboratories, MLT's conduct tests on human specimens and interpret test results. Their analyses provide doctors and their patients with critical diagnostic information to help them in their decision making.

MLT's are graduates of accredited training programs at colleges or university and are certified by the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS). Some also hold undergraduate science degrees. CSMLS certifies medical laboratory technologists in General Medical Laboratory Technology, Diagnostic Cytology and Clinical Genetics.

MLT's are governed by the Regulated Health Professions Act and by their professional body, the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Ontario (CMLTO).

For information about specific training programs for MLT's, contact:

St. Clair College of Applied Arts & Technology (in association with the University of Windsor) 2000 Talbot Road West Windsor, Ontario N9A 6S4 (519) 972-2727 www.stclaircollege.ca		The Michener Institute of Applied Health Sciences 222 Patrick Street Toronto, Ontario M5T 1V4 1 (800) 387-9066 www.michener.on.ca
St. Lawrence College PO Box 6000 Station Main Kingston, Ontario K7L 5A6 (613) 544-5532 www.sl.on.ca		Cambrian College 1400 Barrydowne Road Sudbury, Ontario P3A 3V8 (705) 566-8101 www.cambrianc.on.ca
You can also contact the CSMLS directly at www.csmls.org The University of Ontario Institute of Technology offers a four-year program leading to a Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours) in Medical Laboratory Science degree. University of Ontario Institute of Technology 2000 Simcoe St. North Oshawa, Ontario L1H 7K4 (905) 721-2000 www.uoit.ca

Medical Laboratory Assistants/Technicians
Medical Laboratory Assistants provide pre-analytical services, often directly working with patients in patient service centres, collecting specimens. Medical Laboratory Assistants also work in laboratories, processing specimens and preparing reagents for use in testing. Students receive training at vocational or community colleges and may be certified by the Ontario Society of Medical Technologists (OSMT).

OSMT approved training programs are available from a variety of private, vocational and community colleges.

Ontario's community laboratories provide clinical placements for Medical Laboratory Assistant students.

For more information about training programs for MLA/T's contact:

Everest (formerly CDI) College of Business, Technology and Health Care has locations in Hamilton, Toronto, Ottawa, Barrie, Sudbury, Brampton, Kitchener, London, Windsor and Mississauga. Visit www.everest.ca		C & J Healthcare Support College has locations in Scarborough and Etobicoke. Visit www.cjcollege.com
St. Lawrence College is in Kingston. Visit www.sl.on.ca		Robetech Institute is in Toronto. Visit www.robetech.com
Trillium College is in Oshawa. Visit www.trilliumcollege.ca		Centennial College is located in Scarborough. Visit www.centennialcollege.ca
St. Clair College of Applied Arts & Technology 2000 Talbot Road West Windsor, Ontario N9A 6S4 (519) 972-2727 www.stclaircollege.ca		Medix School has locations in Toronto, London and Kitchener.  Visit www.medixschool.ca
Mohawk College is located in Hamilton. Visit www.mohawkcollege.ca		The National Academy of Health & Business is located in Mississauga. Visit www.nahb.ca
You can also contact OSMT directly at www.osmt.org

Medical Laboratory Scientists

Medical laboratory scientists usually hold post-graduate university degrees, often at the doctoral level, and may work in fields as varied as microbiology, biochemistry, genetics or bacteriology. They may be engaged in cutting-edge genetic research or developing new, molecular diagnostic methods for testing for emerging pathogens found in our drinking water supply. Medical laboratory scientists are in the forefront of our battles against SARS, West Nile virus and Lyme disease. They support their colleagues in the laboratory and physicians in caring for their patients with their highly specialized expertise. If you have a talent for scientific inquiry and an interest in helping others, the medical laboratory sciences offer exciting challenges and opportunities for discovery and innovation.

Medical Laboratory Physicians (Pathologists)

Medical Laboratory Physicians are medical doctors who have chosen as their career specialty the practice of medicine in a laboratory setting. Pathologists are detectives, studying the disease processes in people and trying to determine the underlying causes. In the medical laboratory setting, medical laboratory physicians use a variety of highly sophisticated techniques to try to determine the underlying causes of disease. Pathology is a multi-disciplinary field; pathologists may work in areas as diverse as virology, molecular and cellular microbiology, parasitology, genomics or histopathology. Medical laboratory physicians are technical experts in their fields, able to serve as a resource to their colleagues in the laboratory and to primary care physicians in the community.

Medical Laboratory Managers, Technical and Administrative Directors

Medical Laboratory Managers, Technical and Administrative Directors use expertise in medical technology and administration in the general management of clinical laboratories. They work collaboratively with Medical Directors and other health care professionals and executives coordinating the technical and administrative activities of clinical laboratory services to meet the needs of patients and personnel responsible for patient care. They ensure quality service in a timely and cost effective manner including: planning, quality management, financial management, human resource management and compliance with all accreditation and regulatory requirements relevant to laboratories.

Education and specific training will vary somewhat depending on the size of the organization the laboratory is affiliated with. Typically a Manager or Director will have advanced technical certification in a relevant area of medical technology, a University degree in business or administration and a minimum of five years experience in a supervisory or management role. In larger organizations, a higher level of expertise in laboratory technology, a postgraduate administrative or management degree (MBA) and a longer period of time in a relevant management role are typically required.