Building a Skilled Workforce for a Growing Economy
College Expands Medical Laboratory Sciences Training Program
The Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills, visited College of the North Atlantic (CNA) in Grand Falls-Windsor today to provide details about the construction of specialized laboratory facilities that will allow the college to establish a Medical Laboratory Sciences program at the campus. Minister O’Brien was joined by the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Health and Community Services, and Ann Marie Vaughan, CNA’s President and CEO.
Budget 2014: Shared Prosperity, Fair Society, Balanced Outlook provides
$1.5 million as part of a two-year $4.3 million capital investment for
medical science labs at the Grand Falls-Windsor campus.
“College of the North Atlantic is the sole deliverer of the three-year
Medical Laboratory Sciences program in this province, and currently this
training is only available in St. John’s at the college’s Prince Philip
Drive campus. The Provincial Government’s investment in new specialized labs
will allow CNA to expand its Medical Laboratory Sciences training to Grand
Falls-Windsor, providing more students with an opportunity to pursue an
education in a high-demand field, and supplying a skilled workforce to meet
labour market needs.”
- The Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills
The 5,600 square foot Medical Laboratory Sciences training facility will include three new laboratory facilities in addition to a fourth existing lab, preparatory spaces, storage for materials and supplies – including secure chemical storage – and offices. It is anticipated that beginning in 2016, 16 students will be accepted into the program at the Grand Falls-Windsor campus annually. The Prince Philip Drive campus has a student capacity of 30 students per year.
“The development of a Medical Laboratory Sciences training facility
will enhance health science program delivery and directly benefit rural
regions of the province. Expanding the number of students will ensure that
well-trained and competent graduates are available to the labour market in
addition to improving recruitment at the regional health authorities. This
is a great announcement for Grand Falls-Windsor and all students in this
region interested in the medical laboratory sciences.”
- The Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Health and Community
Services
The Provincial Government is providing $4 million through Budget 2014 for infrastructure at College of the North Atlantic, including $1.5 million for a medical sciences lab at the Grand Falls-Windsor campus and $1.7 million for industrial shop modernization at college campuses. The Provincial Government has allocated over $51 million in infrastructure funding for College of the North Atlantic since 2004.
"College of the North Atlantic is very pleased with this
announcement. Medical Laboratory Sciences is a program with both high
student demand and high labour force demand and this new facility in Grand
Falls-Windsor will allow us to increase the number of students who will be
able to access this training and thus increase the number of qualified
medical laboratory technologists available to our health care sector.”
- Ann Marie Vaughan, President and CEO, College of the North Atlantic
Through sound fiscal management and responsible decisions, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is strengthening the business environment, encouraging the development of innovative industries and building a vibrant economy.
QUICK FACTS
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Media contacts:
John Tompkins Director of Communications Department of Advanced Education and Skills 709-729-0753, 728-7762 jtompkins@gov.nl.ca |
Roger Hulan Communications Specialist College of the North Atlantic 709-643-7938 roger.hulan@cna.nl.ca |
Jennifer Tulk Director of Communications Department of Health and Community Services 709-729-1377, 728-4104 JenniferTulk@gov.nl.ca |
2014 03 28 12:55 p.m.