Nov. 5, 2004

Graduates of Collaborative Medical Radiation Program will help reduce medical waiting lists

Mohawk President, MaryLynn West-Moynes, McMaster President, Peter George, and Minister of Economic Development and Trade, The Honourable Joseph Cordiano, join with industry partners to celebrate the launch of the collaborative Medical Radiation Program.

Hamilton, ON - The Honourable Joseph Cordiano, Minister of Economic Development and Trade, officially launched the Mohawk-McMaster Medical Radiation Sciences program today.

The fully integrated diploma-degree program, the only one of its kind in Ontario, quickly filled all 120 student spaces for this fall’s first entering class. The program was made possible by a $2.2 million award from the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade through the Strategic Skills Investment program, partnerships with industry, including Philips Medical System and GE Healthcare Information Technologies, and generous support from the Tula Foundation, Kodak Canada, Cedara Software Corporation, and Konica Canada Incorporated.

The program will provide students with the education and hands-on training they need to become either medical radiation technologists or diagnostic medical sonographers. These specialists provide critical support to a health care system that is experiencing a significant shortage of trained professionals in these fields.

McMaster President, Peter George says, “This program has taught us how to create a collaboration that really works. It brought together the strengths of both institutions, generated the confidence and support of government and private partners, and all the while maintained its focus on providing the best possible opportunities for students who want to work in the healthcare field.”

Mohawk President, MaryLynn West-Moynes affirms, “Our Mohawk McMaster Institute for Applied Health Sciences partnership, and particularly our new program in medical radiation sciences, empower today’s youth with opportunities in the most dynamic sector of today’s economy. Given the relevance of health care to Canadian society, I know that our graduates will contribute much to diagnostic medicine, and we thank the Government of Ontario and our private sector partners for their investment in our collective future.”

In addition to their time in the classroom, students gain practical experience through a range of clinical placements with almost 70 clinical partners throughout Ontario.

Mohawk College of Applied Arts and Technology serves over 10,000 students, 3,000 apprentices, and 65,000 alumni, and is committed to access, individual development and lifelong learning, recognizing this investment will contribute to economic prosperity for all. Mohawk is recognized for its leadership in medical technologies and nursing programs, featured among over 100 programs offered at four campuses in the Golden Horseshoe region of Ontario.

McMaster University, one of Canada's leading research-intensive universities, has world-renowned faculty and state-of-the-art research facilities. McMaster's culture of innovation fosters a commitment to discovery and learning in teaching, research and scholarship. Based in Hamilton, the University has a student population of more than 20,000 and more than 112,000 alumni in 128 countries.