Roche announces partnership with Ivy Tech to help strengthen Indiana's medical laboratory workforce

Roche Diagnostics North America announced a strategic collaboration with Ivy Tech Community College to help address critical workforce shortages in medical laboratory technology through a phased workforce development initiative.

The partnership grew from conversations with healthcare customers, laboratory partners and employers across Indiana who identified persistent challenges in recruiting and retaining skilled medical laboratory professionals.

Medical laboratory professionals play a vital role in healthcare, supporting the testing and insights clinicians rely on to guide patient care. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), roughly 70% of healthcare decisions depend on laboratory results, yet laboratories nationwide continue to face significant workforce shortages. In Indiana alone, where Roche Diagnostics is headquartered in the U.S., 364 employers posted more than 1,635 openings for clinical laboratory professionals between January and May 2026, while more than 2,000 individuals currently working in the field are ages 55 or older. These workforce trends highlight both immediate hiring needs and the importance of preparing the next generation of the laboratory workforce. Industry leaders cite limited awareness of the profession, declining academic program availability and increasing workforce demands as key factors contributing to the shortage.

Recognizing an opportunity to help address these challenges, Roche partnered with Ivy Tech – which graduates more healthcare professionals than any other institution in Indiana – to validate workforce trends, review labor market data and develop a long-term strategy to strengthen Indiana's medical laboratory workforce.

"By listening to our customers and partners across Indiana, we heard clearly about the workforce challenges they face," said Adria Harris, Head of People & Culture, Roche Diagnostics North America. "This partnership reflects Roche's commitment to investing in the workforce infrastructure that ultimately supports better patient care and stronger healthcare systems."