Congratulations are in order! Vance-Granville Community College just received nearly $1 million in healthcare program funding from the North Carolina Community College System Office for high-cost healthcare programs.
Program Expansion: Health Sciences Simulation Academy
With the assistance of the School of Health Sciences leadership team, Dr. Angela Thomas (Dean of Health Sciences) submitted a proposal to expand VGCC’s current health programs clinical capacity through cooperative, advanced simulation opportunities. The Health Sciences Simulation Academy, or HSSA, will be housed within the former three-room OR suite at Maria Parham Franklin hospital. This interdisciplinary initiative addresses the critical need for highly skilled healthcare workers in rural North Carolina by providing state-of-the-art simulation, virtual reality, and hands-on clinical training. With our efforts to meet the needs of the community, we continue to identify health opportunities that will provide our students with seamless transitions into the workforce while improving their socioeconomic status. The HSSA will enhance the educational experience for Nursing, Pharmacy Technology, Human Services Technology, and Radiography programs by:
- fostering clinical judgment
- improving learning outcomes
- increasing student retention
- increasing licensure pass rates
The State Board of Community Colleges awarded this proposal $400,000 in its September 20 meeting. Congratulations, Dean Thomas and team!
New Program: Central Sterile Processing
In coordination with Dr. Angela Thomas and Pharmacy Technology head Dr. Erica Fleming, Dean Angela Simmons submitted a proposal for a new Continuing Education program for Sterile Processing. The Central Sterile Processing curriculum prepares individuals for the field of Sterile Processing and Central Service Supply. Students will develop the necessary skills to disinfect, prepare, process, store, and issue supplies, instrumentation, and equipment for patient care. Additionally, students will learn to operate sterilizing units and monitor the effectiveness of the sterilization process. Graduates will be eligible to take the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution, Inc. “Sterile Processing and Distribution (SPD) Technician Exam,” earning the title of Central Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician (CSPDT). Employment opportunities include surgery centers, central sterile processing departments in hospitals, and traveling consultation services.
This program has an established need in Vance-Granville’s immediate service area and region. The award of $500,000 will be utilized for initial faculty salaries, equipment, and training. Much like the College’s BioWork program, Central Sterile Processing will be a joint venture between Continuing Education and Curriculum. The new program is a great complement to our BioWork program because the biotechnology industry also utilizes sterilization techniques. Congratulations, Dean Simmons and Dr. Fleming!
Vance-Granville Community College offers a variety of healthcare programs at the certificate, degree, and diploma levels. Learn more by visiting our Health Sciences (CU) and Occupational Healthcare (CE) pages.