Charleston Area Medical Center’s School of Cytotechnology, formerly Charleston School of Cytotechnology, was established in 1956. The program, one of only two in the state of West Virginia, is a twelve-month course covering gynecologic as well as non-gynecologic cytology. Each year, up to six students are carefully chosen. Requirements for admission include twenty semester hours of biology, eight hours of chemistry, three hours of mathematics, and a minimum GPA of 2.5. All cytologists employed by CAMC are graduates from the program, and they each assist the school by sharing interesting cases with the students, giving educational inservices and answering any questions the students may have.

Introduction
Cytology is the study of the structure and function of cells. Diagnostic cytology is the application of this knowledge to the detection of cancer and associated problems. Dr. George Papanicolaou of Cornell University introduced modern cytology in the forties. Since then, cytology has become one of the most important tools in cancer detection of many organ systems and particularly of the female genital tract. The Pap smear has resulted in a tremendous decrease in the occurrence of cervical cancer.

With heightened emphasis on the most cost effective and lowest risk procedures to diagnose disease, cytotechnology is rapidly becoming more in demand within the medical community. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy is now a popular alternative to open surgical biopsy for almost all mass lesions regardless of body site. Cytotechnology can now begin to make the same advances in the early detection and prevention of cancer from all body sites that have been made with regard to the female genital tract.

Success or failure of further progress in this field depends entirely on the excellence of cytotechnologists who are prepared and trained to assist pathologists in the screening of appropriate material.

Admission Requirements
A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college/university with 20 semester hours (30 quarter hours) of biological science, 8 semester hours of chemistry and 3 semester hours of mathematics. Classes that require microscopy such as anatomy/physiology, histology, microbiology, and cell biology are the most beneficial toward success in the cytotechnology program. CAMC’s cytology course is worth 30 college credit hours. These hours may be applied toward a WV Board of Regents degree in a WV state college/university. All students must have a four-year degree upon completion of the cytology course in order to take the required ASCP Board of Registry examination.

Procedure for Admission
Up to six students are admitted per year. Each applicant is required to submit the following to the Education Coordinator. All application materials should be received by March 31 of the entering year.
1. Completed application form (downlaod form)
2. A transcript of college work, plus courses in progress. A minimum GPA of 2.5 is recommended to assure success in the program.
3. Two letters of recommendation/reference.
4. An interview with the Selection Committee will be held when all of the above requirements have been met.
5. Students must submit, upon acceptance into the program, evidence of good health. This report of the medical examination will be part of the student’s records and must be submitted by one week prior to the start of classes. Additional tests required are chest X-ray, chem. panel, urinalysis, and eye examination must be included as part of the student’s entrance health examination (including a test for color vision). Hepatitis B vaccination must be started prior to the start of classes but may be completed during the student year. If Hepatitis B vaccination is already complete, documentation must be provided.

Tuition
Tuition for the year is $5000, which can be paid in two installments. The two required texts for the course are the ASCP Manual, Keebler 7th ed. ($200) and The Art & Science of Cytopathology by DeMay ($350).

Student Loans
Student loans are not obtainable directly through CAMC. However, students may negotiate with any bank of his or her choosing to obtain educational financial assistance. CAMC will provide information and assistance in completing these forms.

Health Care
For the student’s own protection, it is advisable that students carry health or equivalent hospital insurance. Medical attention, due to school or related injury or illness, may be treated in the employee health office.

Living Quarters
Each student will be expected to obtain his or her own living quarters. However, assistance is securing housing is provided upon request.

Holidays
The following holidays are observed with time off if they fall between Monday & Friday: New Year’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving & Christmas.

School Hours, Absenteeism, Parking & Dress Code
School begins at 8:00am and ends at 4:00pm Monday through Friday. Lunch on Monday is from 12:00-1:00pm. On Mondays, Tumor Board attendance is mandatory. Every 1st and 3rd Friday of each month, students are required to attend Lunch & Learn. On all other days, lunch is from 12:00 – 12:30pm. Students choosing to eat in the cafeteria are afforded the CAMC employee discount.

Students may not be absent more than six days during the year. As the cytology program is based on amount of time in instruction and under supervision, the time missed and days absent must be made up before a certificate can be awarded.

Parking for students is permitted across MacCorkle Avenue on the Chesterfield Avenue lot.

Cytology students follow the CAMC laboratory dress code. The cytology instructor or the education coordinator will explain proper safety attire for educational procedures as they are needed in the program.

Material & Equipment
The CAMC cytology department has a library of books that may be used by students. Books must be checked back in daily. Students also have access to the West Virginia University Resource Learning Center in the adjoining WVU Building.

A microscope will be assigned to each student for his/her use during the school year. Students are responsible for the care and weekly cleaning of the microscope.

Academic Standards
In order to successfully complete this course, each student must:
A. complete every unit with a grade of C or better
B. show consistent accuracy with screening of
1. daily screening of glass slides
2. Kodachromes
3. teaching slide sets
4. unknown cases
C. score 70% or above on the final comprehensive exam. Failure to do so will require the student to repeat the comprehensive exam one time within a four week period.

Every unit must be successfully completed with a grade of C or above.

Program Format
The school year begins the first week of June and ends the following May. The first half of the year will focus heavily on the academic aspect of the program. This part of the year will be fast paced. The daily lecture schedule will be adhered to rigidly. Formal lecture time will involve note taking and review of teaching sets. Informal lecture time will be spent at the teaching scope with review of actual cases and instruction on identification of specimen content.

Students will be required to attend autopsies for the purpose of instruction in human anatomy. Appropriate attire will be provided.

Students will do rotations through related departments in and out if the laboratory as well as participate in clinical observations and experiences.

Screening
Students will be allotted a volume of daily screening which will be graded by the instructor. By the end of the school term, students are expected to be able to accurately screen and diagnose 60 slides within 6 hours.

Curriculum
· Unit I: Introduction to cytology
· Unit II: Cytopreparatory techniques
· Unit III: Introduction to the female genital tract
· Unit IV: Female genital tract – benign lesions
· Unit V: Female genital tract – premalignant & malignant lesions
· Unit VI: Diseases of the uterine corpus & adnexa
· Unit VII: Diseases of the vulva & vagina (including cellular reactions to therapy)
· Unit VIII: Oral cavity
· Unit IX: Respiratory tract
· Unit X: Breast
· Unit XI: Gastrointestinal tract
· Unit XII: Effusions
· Unit XIII: Central nervous system & miscellaneous fluids
· Unit XIV: Urinary tract
· Unit XV: Aspiration biopsy cytology
· Research (cytology inservice presentation & independent research project)

Additional information
For additional information, call (304) 388-8235 or send an email to tammie.hager@camc.org. We will gladly assist you in any way possible.