Virginia Western Community College and Radford University celebrated a strengthened partnership on Monday, Oct. 12, that will enable seamless transfer for students in three health-related programs. Virginia Western President Laura J. Treanor and Radford President Bret Danilowicz signed the articulation agreements in a ceremony on the Virginia Western campus.
Virginia Western students who meet all requirements and complete the Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Medical Laboratory Technology; Associate of Science (A.S.) degree in Science: Biotechnology; or the Associate of Science (A.S.) degree in Science: Health Sciences; will be guaranteed admission to the Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science degree program at Radford University.
“Virginia Western’s deep connections in the healthcare community give us real-time information about what programs will serve our region most effectively,” Virginia Western President Laura Treanor said. “This partnership with Radford University addresses those community needs while expanding opportunities for our students to enter in-demand career pathways.”
By creating a direct pipeline from two-year associate degrees to a four-year bachelor’s degree, the two institutions aim to keep talented graduates working in local hospitals and clinical settings.
“This agreement deepens the already strong bond Radford University and Virginia Western have in offering high-quality, highly accessible education for students in Roanoke and Southwest Virginia,” said Radford University President Bret Danilowicz. “Graduates in the health professions including medical laboratory science have excellent immediate job opportunities, and they can serve a great and growing need for essential services throughout the region.”
Crystal M. Davis, Program Head of Medical Laboratory Technology at Virginia Western, points out that while laboratory services comprise less than 2% of total healthcare costs, they generate more than 70% of the objective data in a patient’s healthcare record, frequently acting as the sole determinant for high-stakes outcomes from cardiac interventions to cancer therapies. “Clinical laboratory testing now supports not only diagnosis, but also disease prevention, monitoring and personalized care to promote overall wellness,” she said.
“Advanced education in medical laboratory sciences equips laboratory professionals with knowledge and skills to modernize healthcare through specialized, high-complexity, and molecular diagnostics that deliver rapid, precise insights into complex diseases,” Davis said. “Having bridge programs such as this one helps address critical workforce shortages and allows students to advance their careers locally.”
While the A.S. programs in Biotechnology and Health Sciences are designed to transfer to a four-year institution, the A.A.S. in Medical Laboratory Technology offers the option to enter the workforce directly or continue studies to earn a bachelor’s degree.
“The Medical Laboratory Science profession is critically understaffed in our region and the commonwealth,” said Laura Link, Program Director and Assistant Professor in Radford University’s Medical Laboratory Science Program. “It is wonderful to make pathways available to students from these three programs at Virginia Western, because many students do not know our profession exists and can provide them with a healthcare career that will be challenging but also satisfying. Avenues for students to remain in the region and provide care to our neighbors are a grand slam! Every patient is somebody’s somebody. They all deserve the quality care that we’re preparing our graduates to provide. Today is another step toward making healthcare accessible and available.”
