Program History

Medical Laboratory Science

The Medical Laboratory Science program is the oldest allied health program at West Virginia University and was founded in 1945 by Dr. Edward J. Van Liere, the Dean of the School of Medicine, and Dr. G.G. Dodds as a 2 + 2 curriculum. The original curriculum was designed by Dr. Van Liere, Dr. Dodds, Dr. C.C. Fenton, the Head of the Department of Pathology, and Miss Mary Jo Henn, a registered technologist at the University Hospital Laboratories.

The first class of three students graduated with a BS degree in 1947. Since that time, the program has graduated nearly 1,000 clinical laboratory scientists. Our graduates live and work throughout the United States and the world.

Miss Betholene F. Love became the Technical Director of the program in 1955. At that time, the program was located in the Health Services Building on the main campus of the University. The program moved to the new Medical Center Campus in 1957. In 1960 with the completion of the new University Hospital, it was no longer necessary to send the students to the various laboratories in West Virginia and moved all clinical experiences to the new hospital. Kay Lawson Nichols was the first student to receive all of her clinical experience at WVU Hospital. Enrollment grew first to over 20 students per class in the mid-60s, then to 30 students per class in the 70s.

In 1984, Dr. Betholene F. Love retired after 29 years as head of the clinical laboratory science program. Jean Holter became the interim program director in 1984 and program director in 1988 and served in that capacity until 2002. Karen Long was appointed as the interim program director while a search was conducted for a new director. In September 2003, Martha J. Lake, EdD became the program director until her retirement in 2013. Beverly A. Kirby, EdD was appointed program director July 2013, and retired in July 2018. The current program director is Michelle Butina, PhD.

Histotechnology

Founded in 2010, the Histotechnology program was developed as an area of emphasis in the Medical Laboratory Science (now Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics) major. The curriculum was designed by the current program director, Kimberly Feaster, who is a certified Histotechnologist and holds a qualification in Immunohistochemistry.

The first class of five students graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 2012. Rachel Phillips (Wessman) received the first Histotechnology Achievement Award. Since that time, the program has been successful in placing graduates throughout the United States.

Source

From the History of Medical Technology at West Virginia University Vol. 1 & 2, 1984.