FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 6, 2026
FAIRMONT, W.Va. – First-year Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) students at Pierpont Community & Technical College had the opportunity this week to meet directly with leaders from WVU Medicine, one of the region’s largest healthcare providers and a longtime clinical partner of the program. The visit introduced students to career pathways in medical laboratory science and reinforced the strong demand for skilled laboratory professionals throughout West Virginia and the surrounding region.
The session included remarks from WVU Medicine recruiter Seth Nelson, along with clinical leaders Traci Hinkle, MLS(ASCP), director of lab services for Clinical Labs and Pathology; laboratory manager Cory Leonard, MLS(ASCP); and laboratory manager Ashley Schmidt, MLS(ASCP). Together, they discussed career opportunities available to new graduates and emphasized WVU Medicine’s ongoing need for well‑trained laboratory technicians.
“We wanted to come here to give an opportunity to interface with the students so they could see what career opportunities we have because we are always looking for well‑educated employees, and we feel this program is providing that good foundation,” Hinkle said.
Students also heard from Nelson about the hiring process and how MLT students can begin applying for positions as they approach graduation. WVU Medicine consistently recruits Pierpont graduates, often hiring students as soon as they complete their clinical rotations and earn state licensure.
For many in the classroom, the visit reinforced their decision to pursue a career in laboratory science. First‑year student Cierra Roberts shared that the field immediately resonated with her goals. “I really like to help people and I feel this is a good career field. I just came out of the Air Force, and making a difference and helping people has always been my goal,” Roberts said. “I’m new to West Virginia, and I like learning about hospitals. I think this is a good opportunity.”
Faculty arranged the visit early in the spring semester to help students stay motivated as they begin their program-specific coursework. Pierpont’s MLT program, one of the oldest in West Virginia, has a long history of preparing students to step directly into the workforce with the technical skills, clinical experience and professional readiness employers expect.
Interim President Dr. Michael Waide praised the program’s longstanding success. With his background in medical laboratory education and academic leadership, Dr. Waide emphasized Pierpont’s strong clinical partnerships. “Pierpont’s MLT program has a decades‑long record of producing graduates who are prepared to step directly into the workforce,” Dr. Waide said. “Our partnerships with healthcare leaders like WVU Medicine give students a clear line of sight to high‑demand careers, and that connection is more important than ever as the nation continues to face shortages in the laboratory profession.”
With WVU Medicine serving as one of the college’s key clinical and employment partners, Pierpont students enter their second year with a clear pathway to high‑demand careers. Many graduates secure employment offers before completing their final semester, and healthcare systems across the region continue to seek Pierpont‑trained laboratory professionals.
Faculty say that exposure to employers at this stage helps students see the real impact of their future roles, the stability of the career and the opportunities available to them both locally and nationally.
“We want them to understand early just how many directions this career can take them,” said Melissa White, Professor and Program Coordinator for the MLT program. “Visits like this show students that the work they’re learning now translates directly into meaningful, high‑need positions in hospital laboratories and that partners like WVU Medicine are eager to welcome them.”
Pierpont’s MLT students will begin clinical rotations next year and can expect continued interaction with employers as they progress toward graduation.
To explore Pierpont’s Medical Laboratory Technology program and learn how to get started, visit pierpont.edu.
Pierpont Community & Technical College is dedicated to providing accessible, responsive, and quality education to students and businesses throughout North Central West Virginia. With a focus on career readiness and workforce development, Pierpont offers a wide range of academic programs and industry-focused training opportunities to support the region’s economic and workforce needs.
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