Contact: Melissa Reifert
November 9, 2007

Students Advised to Prepare in High School for Healthcare Careers

It’s good advice to know. For a career in healthcare, early preparation is key. Kim Dorton, Health Sciences Trainer and Instructor at Mountain Empire Community College, knows this to be true. “It has become so competitive for admission to healthcare programs,” she states. “Getting general education and pre-requisite requirements out of the way is how you make yourself more likely to be chosen among all the candidates.”

The good news is that most of the general education credits, required for all two-year and four-year degrees, can be fulfilled while in high school through MECC’s dual enrollment program. Dual Enrollment allows high-achieving students to meet the requirements for high school graduation while simultaneously earning college credit. In addition to helping students wipe out much-needed general education credits, the program also aids students and their parents by saving money and time.

Dual Enrollment students pay no more than 20% of the cost of the college tuition and fees if they are students in one of the Lee, Scott, Wise, Dickenson, or City of Norton public schools. Also, these classes reduce the amount of time it takes overall to complete a college degree or certificate. Dual enrollment courses are available on the MECC campus through a traditional classroom setting or, in some cases, through convenient web and night class options.

“Planning in advance, even in high school, for your career can help you in the long run,” says Dorton. “This is especially true in the healthcare areas.” Currently, MECC has healthcare programs including Emergency Medical Services, Funeral Services, Medical Laboratory Technician, Nursing, Physical Therapy Assistant, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Radiography, and Respiratory Therapy. The college also offers career studies certificates in Pharmacy Technician and Phlebotomy.

“What many people may not know is that all of these programs are now available locally,” states Dorton. “Students still have to take their labs for Physical Therapy Assistant off-campus, but everything else is available right here on the MECC campus.”

In addition to the affordability and availability of garnering credits early for an MECC healthcare program, the job outlook is still bright in the industry which the programs feed. For students searching for job security, graduating with a degree from one of MECC’s healthcare programs is a smart career move in terms of obtaining and maintaining work. “There are definitely jobs available in these areas,” says Dorton. “All you have to do is look at the Sunday paper “want” ads.”

For more information about any of MECC’s healthcare programs, contact Kim Dorton at (276) 523-2400, extension 356 or kdorton@me.vccs.edu.

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