South College Orlando hosts Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida teens for Health Career Discovery Day
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 20, 2024
South College Orlando hosted teens from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida for Health Career Discovery Day to get a hands-on introduction to careers in healthcare and spark their interest in pursuing varying fields.
The teenagers are part of the Leesburg Branch of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida, which operates 38 clubs in five counties and is one of the largest in the country. The club members participated in various activities related to a spectrum of healthcare careers in surgical technology, respiratory therapy, radiography and more.
“Careers in healthcare fields are some of the fastest-growing opportunities in the country and especially in Florida,” South College Orlando President Jim McCoy said. “We wanted to introduce these teenagers early to educational options that will become available to them after high school and let them see the wide spectrum of healthcare programs that we offer at South College Orlando.”
The activities included intubation of a model in respiratory therapy; the process of “scrubbing in” for a surgical technician; and ultrasound scanning through the use of medical imaging phantoms, which mimic body tissue, among other hands-on experiences.
The teenagers learned about careers in nursing, surgical technology, respiratory therapy, radiography, diagnostic medical sonography, medical assisting and physician assistant and then enjoyed pizza in the student lounge.
“An education at South College leads to multiple paths in healthcare,” said Dr. Melissa Kennedy, Associate Dean of Nursing South College Orlando. “We welcomed these teenagers to experience what it’s like in a college setting and to inspire them to continue their education after high school. We want to foster the next generation of healthcare professionals.”
The South College Orlando campus opened in 2021 and has expanded its original program offerings which now include healthcare-related certificate, associate and bachelor’s programs in areas such as Health Science, Imaging Science, Medical Assisting, Nursing, Respiratory Therapy and Surgical Technology.
Recently, 10 nursing students from South College Orlando were selected to participate in clinical rotations at the Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center’s (ORMC) Dedicated Education Unit (DEU). The selection marked a significant achievement for the students and the institution.
The Orlando campus is located at 6649 Westwood Blvd., Suite 100, in Orlando. For more information about South College Orlando visit south.edu.
About South College
South College serves more than 13,500 students and is proud of its more than 17,000 graduates. The institution offers academic programs at multiple levels, including professional certificates and associate, bachelor’s, master’s, educational specialist and doctoral degree programs via campuses in Knoxville and Nashville, Tennessee; Asheville, North Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; Indianapolis, Indiana; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Orlando, Florida, as well as Online and CBE. South College focuses on ensuring high standards and quality educational offerings, maintaining multiple authorizations and accreditations.
South College’s programs span diverse fields such as business, criminal justice, dental hygiene/assisting, diagnostic medical sonography, nursing, occupational therapy, paralegal studies, physical therapy, radiography, respiratory therapy, physician assistant studies, pharmacy and surgical technology. The institution is dedicated to preparing students with the skills and knowledge needed for the professional opportunities ahead of them. For more information, visit south.edu.