The
Department of Pathology has offered training in cytotechnology since
1967. Diagnostic cytology laboratory
work has been documented at UND since 1952. Degrees have been granted
since 1975. The most recent accreditation was in 2003 for 5 years.
The Cytotechnology Program is accredited by the Commission
on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and
currently exists as the only cytotechnology program in North Dakota,
South Dakota,
Wyoming
and
Montana. The nearest accredited program east is at Mayo Clinic in
Rochester, MN, training 8 students per year. South, the nearest program
is in
Des Moines, IA, where up to four students are trained. West, Salt
Lake, UT is the nearest, also with a capacity of four. Nationally,
there are about 48 training programs with an average of seven students
each.
This program is located within the UND
School of Medicine and Health Sciences, which offers undergraduate
programs in clinical laboratory science, occupational therapy, and
athletic training. Graduate programs offered are clinical laboratory
science, physical therapy, occupational therapy, anatomy, cell biology,
biochemistry, molecular biology, microbiology, physiology, immunology,
and pharmacology.
| CAAHEP
ACCREDITATION |
| Intense process
which includes application, self-study, on-site evaluation,
committee review and recommendation, and finally an action by
the CAAHEP Board of Directors. |
- Programs must
follow the Standards and Guidelines set up by CAAHEP for Cytotechnology
Programs.
- Graduation from
a CAAHEP accredited program is considered gold standard in
this field.
|
Cytotechnologist
Cytotechnology is an allied health speciality
that involves the evaluation of cellular material from many
body sites. Paramount to the work of the cytotechnologist
is the microscopic recognition of normal and abnormal cells
indicating
malignant
neoplasms, precancerous lesions, infectious agents and inflammatory
processes. Three broad areas of study in this field are gynecologic,
non-gynocologic and fine needle aspiration. The
cytotechnologist must also possess technical skills for a
wide variety of specimen preparations along and an understanding
of laboratory operations. (CAAHEP) |
|
