For more information, contact Darnell Holopirek, 620-792-9367, holopirekd@bartonccc.edu.

April 28, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Story by: Michael Dawes
dawesm@bartonccc.edu

Barton Community College is in the process of establishing an endowment to honor retired pathologist Dr. Edward “Dusty” Jones, who served as the catalyst for the College’s Medical Laboratory Technician program more than three decades ago.

Serving as an area pathologist in the mid-1970s, Jones recognized the difficulty in recruiting medical technicians to staff labs in central and western Kansas. He began a “grow-our-own” campaign that resulted in the College starting its MLT program in the fall 1977.

“There have been so many people touched by Dr. Jones’ medical expertise that we felt it would be nice to honor him with the endowment,” said Barton’s Executive Director of Institutional Advancement Darnell Holopirek. “No donation is too large or too small.”

Once the $10,000 endowment is reached and growth is established on the principal, Barton will offer a $1,000 scholarship per year to a second-year MLT student, whose grade point average is 3.0 or higher.

Those wanting to donate to the endowment in honor of Jones are encouraged to contact Holopirek, 620-792-9367, holopirekd@bartonccc.edu.

Jones served as medical adviser of the MLT program during its first 25 years. During that time, he annually presented clinical correlations instruction for students.

“By so freely sharing his knowledge and expertise, he has directly touched the lives of hundreds of students,” said Leonard Bunselmeyer, Executive Director of Healthcare and Public Safety Education, who initiated the MLT Program 32 years ago with Jones’ guidance. “People all over the state remember Dusty and they remember his training.”

Today, Barton is one of only two programs in the state educating MLT students. With the hybrid and online options, Barton is currently educating more than 30 MLT students across Kansas and western Missouri.

Jones retired as a pathologist a decade ago, and hung up his medical adviser hat seven years ago, but he continues to serve 10 hours a week as the district coroner. He said he’s proud of playing such an integral part in Barton’s MLT program.

“It’s gratifying, seeing how successful the program is today,” said Jones. “I think it’s classic of how a community college should work. Traditionally, hospitals had their own programs, but it’s better to share resources through an affiliated institution and utilize a medical advisory committee to make decisions. It’s worked out well over the years.”

Sowing Seeds - Dr. Edward “Dusty” Jones (seated) is photographed with (left to right) Darnell Holopirek, Director of MLT Cheryl Lippert, and Leonard Bunselmeyer in the MLT Lab on Barton’s campus. The room has served as the MLT Lab since the program’s beginning. The endowment effort is one way that Dr. Jones’ name will be associated with Barton’s MLT program for many years to come, explained Holopirek.