Virginia Western Community College and Radford University signed three articulation agreements on October 12, 2026, creating seamless transfer pathways for students in three health-related programs. Virginia Western President Laura J. Treanor and Radford President Bret Danilowicz signed the agreements in a ceremony on Virginia Western’s Roanoke campus.
Under the agreements, Virginia Western students who meet all requirements and complete one of three associate degrees will be guaranteed admission to Radford’s Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science program:
- Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Medical Laboratory Technology
- Associate of Science (A.S.) in Science: Biotechnology
- Associate of Science (A.S.) in Science: Health Sciences
“Virginia Western’s deep connections in the healthcare community give us real-time information about what programs will serve our region most effectively,” said Treanor. “This partnership with Radford University addresses those community needs while expanding opportunities for our students to enter in-demand career pathways.”
Keeping Talent in the Region
By creating a direct pipeline from two-year associate degrees to a four-year bachelor’s degree, the institutions aim to keep talented graduates working in local hospitals and clinical settings. The A.S. programs in Biotechnology and Health Sciences are designed for transfer, while the A.A.S. in Medical Laboratory Technology lets students either enter the workforce directly or continue toward a bachelor’s degree.
“This agreement deepens the already strong bond Radford University and Virginia Western have in offering high-quality, highly accessible education for students in Roanoke and Southwest Virginia,” said Danilowicz. “Graduates in the health professions including medical laboratory science have excellent immediate job opportunities, and they can serve a great and growing need for essential services throughout the region.”
The Lab Behind Patient Care
Crystal M. Davis, Program Head of Medical Laboratory Technology at Virginia Western, noted that while laboratory services make up less than 2% of total healthcare costs, they generate more than 70% of the objective data in a patient’s health record, often determining high-stakes decisions from cardiac interventions to cancer therapies.
“Advanced education in medical laboratory sciences equips laboratory professionals with knowledge and skills to modernize healthcare through specialized, high-complexity, and molecular diagnostics that deliver rapid, precise insights into complex diseases,” Davis said. “Having bridge programs such as this one helps address critical workforce shortages and allows students to advance their careers locally.”
Addressing a Workforce Shortage
“The Medical Laboratory Science profession is critically understaffed in our region and the commonwealth,” said Laura Link, Program Director and Assistant Professor in Radford University’s Medical Laboratory Science Program. “It is wonderful to make pathways available to students from these three programs at Virginia Western, because many students do not know our profession exists and can provide them with a healthcare career that will be challenging but also satisfying.”
