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Health Science Center Academic ProgramsMedical Laboratory Technician
A medical laboratory technician is a health care professional who works in a hospital, clinic, and less frequently in public health agencies, pharmaceutical firms, and research institutions. Technicians perform such tasks as collecting blood specimens and a wide variety of laboratory tests on patients' specimens. Clinical Laboratory Science Clinical laboratory scientists (medical technologists) are health-care professionals that play a vital role in modern medicine. Clinical laboratory scientists are extensively educated in all aspects of laboratory medicine. They are responsible for providing accurate information to physicians so that they may diagnose, monitor and treat disease, monitor patient health, and practice preventive medicine. It is estimated that 70 percent of all medical decisions made by physicians are based on the vital information provided by clinical laboratory scientists. Dental assistants work with dentists as patients are examined and treated. Dental assistants who can document training in expanded functions may be delegated by the dentist to perform those functions on patients. In addition, they may carry out a variety of laboratory, clinical and office duties. Some dental assistants manage the dental office and are responsible for bookkeeping and scheduling patients. Medical Dosimetry According to the American Association of Medical Dosimetrists (AAMD): “The Medical Dosimetrist is a member of the radiation oncology treatment planning team, who is thoroughly familiar with the physical and geometric characteristics of radiation equipment and radioactive sources commonly employed and has the training and expertise necessary to measure and generate radiation dose distributions and calculations under the direction of the medical physicist and the radiation oncologist.” The Dosimetrist’s responsibilities include the many functions related to planning treatment delivery using sophisticated computers and techniques. Nuclear medicine technology, NMT, is the medical specialty concerned with the use of small amounts of radio-pharmaceutical drugs for diagnostic, therapeutic, and research purposes. It is a vigorous, dynamic field that has grown phenomenally over the past several years. NMT is a multi-disciplinary field, linking medicine to quantitative sciences such as chemistry, anatomy/physiology and physics. Nuclear Medicine Technologists use their technical expertise to assist physicians in the diagnosis of disease and injury. Technologists work directly with patients. The job market in NMT is wide-open. All graduates are professionally employed. Upon graduation, students can find a job in the NMT field almost anywhere in the United States, although most remain in the Wisconsin/Minnesota area. Occupational therapists work with people of all ages facing physical, emotional, or mental challenges due to injury or disease. Occupational therapists are part of a healthcare team that may also include physicians, physician assistants, physical therapists, speech pathologists, and recreational therapists. “Occupation” refers to those everyday meaningful tasks that individuals do everyday. Students who choose a career in occupational therapy will be instrumental in helping others participate fully in life. An
occupational therapy assistant (OTA) is a health care professional who
cares for people of all ages with physical, developmental, and
psychological disabilities. Occupational therapy is a
health care service that uses activities that are personally fulfilling
to help people to learn skills they need in order to live as
independently as possible. An OTA may work with a wide
variety of individuals of various ages and disabilities or specialize in
a particular area such as pediatrics, hand function, geriatrics, and
assistive technology.
Physical Therapy Physical therapists work to prevent and remediate pain, physical disability and loss of function associated with injuries, disorders or illnesses. People who see physical therapists typically have disorders such as: musculoskeletal conditions including back, arm or leg pain or weakness; neurological disorders such as cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease or stroke; cardiovascular problems; post-surgical weakness or stiffness; balance problems; wounds or burns. Physical therapists work in diverse settings including private practice, hospitals/clinics, schools, nursing homes, sports medicine facilities, research institutions, and universities. The job market for physical therapists is excellent throughout the United States. Physical Therapist Assistant The physical therapist assistant (PTA) works under the direction and supervision of the physical therapist, helping manage conditions such as; back and neck injuries, sprains/strains, fractures, arthritis, burns, amputations, stroke, multiple sclerosis, birth defects, injuries related to work and sports, and others. Physician assistants (PAs) are health professionals licensed to practice medicine with the supervision of a physician. PAs are qualified to take medical histories, examine patients, order and administer tests, make diagnoses, treat illness and assist in surgery. The PA Program in the Health Science Center is a partnership involving the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse, the Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation and the Mayo School of Health Sciences. Radiation therapists work as a team with doctors, nurses and physicists using radiation in the treatment of disease (typically cancer). The field offers great satisfaction in working with patients during a difficult time in their life. The UW-L RT program is the only baccalaureate program in Wisconsin. Radiation Therapists’ major roles include (1) treatment planning, (2) daily delivery of treatments for patients’ 2-8 week course of therapy, (3) patient education & assessment and (4) quality assurance. A radiographer is a medical professional who performs diagnostic x-ray imaging examinations on patients, with the use of ionizing radiation. We are responsible for accurately positioning patients and making sure that a quality diagnostic image is produced. We work closely with radiologists, the physicians who interpret medical images for diagnosis. Recreation Management Recreation Management professionals are trained to assume middle management positions in government recreation/parks, for-profit enterprises, tourism businesses, or non-profit recreation organizations. Recreation Management professionals work as directors, associate directors, assistant directors, associate managers, coordinators, programmers, and specialists in any of the following areas: National, state, county, or city parks and recreation agencies , Commercial resort businesses, camping agencies, university and intramural recreation, convention centers, visitors bureaus and Military MWR recreation (civil service). Therapeutic Recreation Certified Specialists Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists are trained to help individuals with physical, cognitive, and/or behavioral disabilities. They assume positions in hospitals, geriatric centers, drug rehabilitation centers, correctional institutions, and community centers and work with older adults, children, adolescents, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, neuromuscular disorders and stroke. UW-Madison School of Nursing-Western Campus The University of Wisconsin-Madison Western Campus for Nursing is a partnership between a Big 10 University and an outstanding academic medical center. This innovative Bachelor of Science in Nursing program offers the upper-division nursing component of the UW-Madison School of Nursing curriculum onsite at Gundersen Lutheran in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The baccalaureate program prepares individuals for beginning level positions in professional nursing practice. The foundations in general and professional education acquired in the program provide a basis for progressing into positions of increased responsibility, leadership and future graduate study in nursing.
Gundersen Lutheran nursing faculty teach classes in academic partnership with UW-Madison nursing educators. After acceptance to UW-Madison School of Nursing (after completion of nursing prerequisite courses), you can choose to complete your junior and senior years in Madison, or at the Western Campus in La Crosse. Nursing students enrolled in UW-Madison School of Nursing’s satellite program will complete the clinical component of their work in the La Crosse area healthcare facilities and the nursing coursework in small seminars or classrooms at the Health Science Center. Upon successful completion of the Western Campus program and all remaining general education requirements, students receive a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from UW-Madison School of Nursing. |
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