Healthy Careers Start Today At Dunwoody

Minneapolis campus now accepting applications for two- and four-year degree programs in Minnesota's fastest-growing health care technology careers. Industry demand for Dunwoody Health Sciences and Technology careers to grow an average of 30 percent by 2014.

Minneapolis, MN (PRWEB) April 28, 2009

Dunwoody College of Technology today began accepting the first applications for its new Health Sciences and Technology programs, including a breakthrough bachelor's degree program in health informatics and a radiologic technology program in partnership with North Memorial Medical Center. According to U.S. Department of Labor statistics, these programs are among the fastest-growing health care careers nationwide. Formal approval of these programs by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges is expected on June 15, 2009.

"In an uncertain economy, thousands of Minnesotans are looking for new job skills and discovering that health technology careers are growing," said Dr. Richard Wagner, president-elect of Dunwoody. "We created these programs with immediate employment for graduates in mind, and we are forging industry alliances with Minnesota's biggest health care employers to ensure Dunwoody graduates are well positioned for success in their respective fields."

Beginning in Sept. 2009, Dunwoody will offer degree programs for health informatics specialists, radiologic technologists, medical laboratory technicians and physical therapist assistants. Part of the Dunwoody campus is being transformed into a Health Technology Corridor with an eye towards Dunwoody's tradition of applied, hands-on learning. The goal is to create lab spaces that operate as close to industry standards as possible and even provide cross-department experiences (e.g., physical therapy students will generate data for use by health informatics students). In addition, all graduates will complete experiential training in a clinical setting.

"Dunwoody's 95-year heritage as the Twin Cities' premier technical college makes the new Health Sciences and Technology platform a perfect fit," Wagner added. As job growth becomes a top priority for economic recovery, the College's role in training a 21st century workforce becomes even more critical. I am confident we will be able to bring something new to the health education landscape and produce renowned Dunwoody graduates who combine a strong work ethic with top-notch skills and a thorough knowledge of their fields."

Dunwoody's Health Sciences and Technology programs represent the most rigorous and lucrative health care career studies available in the Twin Cities. Starting today, prospective students can visit dunwoody.edu and apply to one of these four programs:

Health Information Management
Dunwoody's health information management program is the first in the United States to offer a four-year degree in health information that focuses on electronic records and the expertise needed to manage them. The coursework includes core training in health care and medical records management, as well as a robust information technology component, including database management, networking and computer programming.

Trained health information technicians can earn up to $23.00 per hour in Minnesota with a degree from Dunwoody College of Technology. Health information management careers are projected to grow by more than 30 percent in the next six years statewide.

The program will offer a four-year bachelor of applied science degree in health informatics, a two-year bachelor's completion program for professionals with a two-year degree in health information management, and a 60-credit health care data analyst certificate for those with two- and four-year health care degrees who want to add expertise in health information management to their résumé.

Radiologic Technology
Dunwoody is partnering with North Memorial Medical Center to offer a two-year radiologic technology degree. The radiologic technology program trains highly skilled medical professionals who oversee X-ray, MRI and other radiologic procedures, as well as manage radiology support staff in hospitals, clinics and specialized imaging centers.

Trained radiologic technologists can earn up to $35.00 per hour in Minnesota with a degree from Dunwoody College of Technology. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, there will be nearly 8,000 job openings nationwide for radiologic technologists by 2014.

Clinical training for the Dunwoody radiologic technicians will take place at North Memorial, with state-of-the-art equipment and a tradition of training radiologic professionals.

Minnesota Office of Higher Education (MOHE) approval of this program is subject to the completion of the application for programmatic accreditation by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) which is scheduled for 2011.

Medical Laboratory Technician
The two-year medical laboratory technician program at Dunwoody trains laboratory personnel to assist with testing, disease diagnosis and treatment. Dunwoody's program will be unique in that it will add two courses from the College's Carlson Certificate of Quality, which means graduates will have extra credibility when it comes to quality control -- a critical part of working in and managing a medical laboratory.

By 2014, there will be 32 percent more openings for medical laboratory technicians than there are today. Trained medical lab technicians can earn up to $24.00 per hour working in Minnesota hospitals, doctors' offices and clinics.

MOHE approval of this program is subject to completion of the application for programmatic accreditation by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Services (NAACLS) which is scheduled, approximately, for spring 2011.

Physical Therapist Assistant
The Dunwoody physical therapist assistant (PTA) program provides students with a hands-on learning experience to prepare them for direct patient interaction. With physical therapist assistant careers projected to grow by more than 30 percent over the next six years, trained Dunwoody graduates can earn an average of $23.00 per hour in Minnesota.

The College has created a new lab on campus for its PTA program, complete with modern diagnostic equipment and treatment areas that will serve the Dunwoody student body while PTA program participants enjoy hands-on learning.

MOHE approval of this program is subject to completion of the application for programmatic accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) which is currently in progress.

For More Information
Dunwoody will hold an open house for those interested in learning more about its new Health Sciences and Technology programs Saturday, May 2, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at its main campus, 818 Dunwoody Blvd., Minneapolis. Prospective attendees should RSVP for the open house by phone at 612-381-3439.

About Dunwoody College of Technology
Dunwoody College of Technology is a private, nonprofit, endowed institution of higher education that has educated and trained more than 250,000 men and women for meaningful and rewarding technical careers. It is the only institution of its kind in the Upper Midwest. Dunwoody is committed to excellence in education and works to serve those preparing for and working in business and industry. Visit http://www.dunwoody.edu or call 612-374-5800 for more information.

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