College & University Affiliations
The UPMC Chautauqua Medical Laboratory Science Program is affiliated with the following institutions of higher learning and extends courtesy faculty appointments to their program Coordinators/Directors.
The student will be bound by the affiliation agreement between the hospital program and the degree granting institution. The affiliation protects all entities, including assuring an accepted student of his/her right to complete the program year should the hospital or university discontinue their respective program. These universities listed below have been found to provide the necessary academic preparation for students wishing to pursue a career in Medical Laboratory Science at the UPMC Chautauqua Medical Laboratory Science Program.
Buffalo, NY
Dr. Robert J. Grebenok, Professor of Biology, Director Medical Laboratory Science
Elmira, NY
Dr. Abbi Paulson, Associate Professor of Biology; Director, Clinical Laboratory Science
Kent, OH
Dr. Chi-hua Groff, Associate Professor, Clinical Laboratory Sciences Program Coordinator
Edinboro, PA
Dr. Matthew Foradori, Department of Biology & Health Services; Advisor, Medical Technology Program
Philadelphia, PA
Diane Valentin, MS, MT(ASCP)MB, Director, Medical Laboratory Science Program
Greenville, PA
Sarah J. Swerdlow, Ph.D., Assistant Professor and Chairperson, Biology Department
Students attending non-affiliated colleges or universities are also considered for acceptance providing admission criteria have been met. It is generally determined that given equality in all other aspects, the affiliated student will be given preference over a non-affiliated student.
UPMC Hospital Affiliations
Along with rotations at UPMC Chautauqua, students have the opportunity to experience a clinical rotation(s) at other UPMC hospital laboratories that have joined alongside our MLS Program. Each of these laboratories follows our MLS curriculum, allowing all students to complete our program with the required knowledge, skills, and more. We are excited for students who are able and willing to expand their laboratory experiences. As part of the UPMC healthcare system, instrumentation is the same/similar across the system, not only helping in cost-effective reagent utilization for the laboratory but is also very supportive for our MLS students; no matter where they do their rotations students are exposed to identical instrumentation and diagnostic theory. Free housing for rotations outside of Jamestown is available to students who request by the announced deadline
Serving a large population in Chautauqua County, Cattaraugus County and beyond, the UPMC Chautauqua clinical laboratory is vital to western NY communities. A vast array of state-of-the-art instrumentation, the laboratory boasts a long history of training quality medical laboratory scientists since the MLS Program’s inception in 1974. The open-lab environment permits unique patient samples and results to be seen and experienced by students in a timely manner, no matter which area of the laboratory the student is currently studying. Rotations are in all areas of study (chemistry, blood bank, hematology/coagulation, and microbiology) for 8 students in each 5-week rotation.
A level 1 trauma center in Erie, PA, UPMC Hamot’s laboratory and blood bank are vital to the emergency care of its community and surrounding areas. UPMC Hamot takes 1 student per rotation in allowing for the opportunity for up to 4 blood bank students and 4 chemistry/ immunochemistry students to experience their 5-week rotation in Erie, PA.
UPMC Hamot is 50 miles (1 hr) from UPMC Chautauqua. For those unable to commute, free housing is available.
In the heart of New Castle, PA, UPMC Jameson’s laboratory offers training in microbiology. Centrally located, their microbiology lab acts as a reference laboratory for other UPMC hospitals and clinics. UPMC Jameson takes 1 student per rotation allowing for the opportunity for up to 4 students to experience the wide variety of specimens and specimen quantity.
UPMC Jameson is 133 miles (2 hr 15 min) from UPMC Chautauqua. Free housing option will be available.
As you approach the end of the long driveway alongside a peaceful field, you discover the impressive and welcoming UPMC Northwest. Located in Seneca, PA, UPMC Northwest is similar to UPMC Chautauqua in size with its number of inpatient suites and also in the high number of outpatients it serves. UPMC Northwest takes 1 student per rotation in the disciplines of hematology, urinalysis and phlebotomy, allowing for up to 4 students to experience this small-in-size but large in test volume laboratory.
UPMC Northwest is 65 miles (1 hr 25 min) from UPMC Chautauqua. Free housing is available.