We understand that professional growth is important to the international medical technologists who entrust us with their future in the United States. That is why we have developed a comprehensive education program, delivered through Conexus Academy, to help our medical technologists to pursue the career path they envisage for themselves, while living their version of the American dream. In this article, Tracy Moore, Conexus MedStaff’s Associate Director of Education, discusses how we support medical technologists to thrive in their new U.S. careers.
Medical technologists are supported at every stage of their U.S. journey by Conexus. We have a strong team of experts specialized in immigration, education, and more, as well as former healthcare professionals who add an extra layer of experience to the Conexus experience. Our team works closely with each healthcare professional to determine their goals and ambitions for moving to the U.S., so that we can help them to find the ideal placement in a facility and location that will enable them to realize the future they envision for themselves.
Part of our commitment to enabling medical technologists to thrive in the U.S. is to provide them with a personalized education plan. This is designed by our experts to help each individual healthcare professional to build their skills and strengthen their capabilities, laying the foundation for them to transition into their ideal role.
The Conexus education program also provides key information on working in the U.S., so that medical technologists are up to speed on local procedures before they even arrive in the country. “It’s just an inherent part of the Conexus Academy curriculum, which is based on evidence-based practice, that we teach all of our medical technologists what to expect when they start working in the United States,” explained Tracy.
While the core curriculum is delivered to all medical technologists, Conexus crafts personalized education plans for all healthcare professionals based on their career goals. “We ask them from the start where they want to be, what they want to be doing. Based on that, we develop a plan and provide modules that will help them to upskill and develop the necessary knowledge to progress into the position they want.”
According to Tracy, Conexus is as invested in our medical technologists’ future as we are in their current deployment. “Through our education program, we provide them with a stepping stone to get where they want to go. We listen to what they want now and a few years down the road, and we invest in them to help make it happen. Supporting our healthcare professionals’ growth is important, even if we sometimes have to have frank discussions about timeframes and so on.”
Medical technologists who are generalists are in high demand across the U.S. – but just because a medical technologist starts working in an American facility as a generalist, doesn’t mean they won’t want to specialize in the future. “As a generalist, a medical technologist can work in multiple areas,” said Tracy. “They can do specialty qualifications after working in an environment for at least a year and have so many hours of experience. They have to prove that they have theoretical education in that category as well.”
Tracy continued, explaining that “certifications for specializations need to come from a certified institution, such as the American Society for Clinical Pathology, or ASCP. Conexus unfortunately can’t give them the academic theory that is required by the ASCP, but the ASCP has multiple courses and programs available that can help medical technologists reach their career goals. While we can’t provide this education, our education experts can suggest which pathways to take.”
Where Conexus can help with professional growth is by providing academic support. “If a medical technologist wants to go from having a Bachelor’s degree to a Master’s degree, or from a Master’s to a Doctorate, they can specialize that way and choose to focus on biology, histology, chemistry, or even leadership or teaching. We’re partnered with several educational institutes and our healthcare professionals have access to discounts of up to 20% off tuition costs.”
Whatever their future in the U.S. may look like, Conexus is committed to providing a tailored experience for all of our medical technologists. Our goal is to help them achieve a career they can be proud of, while building a life they love in the United States.
Are you an international medical technologist or registered nurse looking to start a new career in the U.S.? Apply now to find out how we can help.
