Loyalist College celebrated the grand opening of its Medical Radiation Technology (MRT) lab with a ribbon-cutting event at the Belleville campus on Tuesday.
Designed to reflect contemporary clinical environments, the new learning space gives students access to industry-standard equipment and simulated patient-care scenarios that mirror the work they will perform in hospitals and other health-care settings.
The event included remarks from Mark Kirkpatrick, President and CEO of Loyalist College, who spoke about the college’s commitment to expanding its health care programming and increasing access to specialized education in the region.
“This new lab reflects Loyalist’s role in responding to the needs of our communities,” says President Kirkpatrick. “Students are looking for opportunities to pursue meaningful health care careers without having to leave the region, and our hospital and clinical partners need skilled graduates who are ready to contribute. As the first in a suite of planned diagnostic imaging spaces at Loyalist, this space helps bring those priorities together.”
Attending the event were regional health care leaders, including Jeff Hohenkerk, CEO of Campbellford Memorial Hospital; and Stacey Daub, President and CEO of Quinte Health. Daub spoke about the ongoing collaboration between Loyalist and Quinte Health.
“Strong community hospitals are built through strong partnerships, and our relationship with Loyalist College is helping create the next generation of healthcare professionals right here at home,” says Stacey Daub, President and CEO of Quinte Health. “This new Medical Radiation Technology lab represents an investment in students, in workforce development, and ultimately in the patients and families we serve. By providing opportunities for students to learn, train and build careers close to home, we are strengthening access to care and helping ensure our communities have the skilled healthcare professionals they need for years to come.”
The new lab was established in part through a $750,000 gift from the John M. & Bernice Parrott Foundation, an organization with a longstanding history of supporting both education and health care in the region.
The event concluded with a ribbon cutting and tours of the new lab, providing attendees with an opportunity to view the industry-grade equipment, speak to students and faculty and learn more about the Medical Radiation Technology program at Loyalist.
“One of the most valuable parts of this lab is that it gives us the opportunity to practise in a safe learning environment,” adds MRT student Sharmiga Sriskantharajah. “We are able to ask questions, make mistakes, learn from them and continue improving before entering clinical placements and working directly with patients. That experience builds confidence and professionalism for real clinical settings. We are incredibly grateful to the college, faculty, donors, healthcare partners and everyone involved in helping bring this program and lab to life.”
