BCAT RECOGNIZES TWELVE MEDICAL ASSISTANT & PHLEBOTOMY STUDENTS WITH DIPLOMAS OF COMPLETION AT ETC PITT-TITUSVILLE
TITUSVILLE, PA. – Twelve medical assistant and phlebotomy students from the region received diplomas for successfully completing the no-cost, 10-month career training from Brockway Center for Arts and Technology at the Education & Training Center at Pitt-Titusville on Tuesday, June 4.
Program graduates were Josee Pinkham of Titusville, Peg Teeter of Oil City, Shi Grazier of Titusville, Kenadee Schiffer of Oil City, Bailey Bodamer of Pleasantville, Angelina Falco of Titusville, Jodi Redick of West Hickory, Caitlin Nordin of Titusville, Tyler Hartley of Titusville, Randa McCleary of Pleasantville, Rachel Byler of Spartansburg, and Abby Lesko of Titusville.
“This year’s graduates have worked very hard to get to this point,” said Jessica Hummer, RN, acting director & instructor. “They would say it was hard material but worth the investment. I am proud of the graduates and expect them to impact the community's need to fulfill medical assistant and phlebotomy positions within the local hospitals and rural doctors' offices.”
“Brockway - BCAT serves over 10 counties and with this program in Titusville, it continues to expand the impact on rural communities. It is a very surreal feeling going into a local doctor's office or hospital system and running into a previous graduate, I look forward to the same feeling when I see my current students working as medical assistants, a highly respected profession,” Hummer added.
Each BCAT student spends the last two weeks getting prepared for the National Healthcareer Association’s Certified Clinical Medical Assistant and Certified Phlebotomy Technician exams. These certifications illustrate to potential employers the necessary skills and knowledge needed to be an asset in healthcare settings.
The program requires 1,060 hours for each participant. The curriculum breakdown is 34 weeks of classroom time, an eight-week externship at a variety of medical facilities in the region, followed by two weeks of certification testing preparation in class, as well as a 20-hour community service project. Some of the community service projects included creating giveaway baskets and volunteering at local community events.
Half of the graduates have jobs, while the remaining half chose to wait until their certifications were completed before choosing employment placement. The program has a 100% certification success rate through the 2023 inaugural class, and “I’m pleased to announce this year’s class of 2024 has continued the impressive trend,” according to Hummer.
BCAT’s program at ETC Pitt-Titusville is offered at no-cost to students based on economic need in the region. This allows students to focus on establishing career-ready skills, very much in demand in healthcare across the board. ETC at Pitt-Titusville is dedicated to the development of workforce opportunities with each partner offering throughout Northwestern PA. For more information, visit www.brockwaycatart.org or etc.pitt.edu.