Albany Tech expands recruitment for healthcare programs with launch of MEDSTARTX van
ALBANY, Ga. – Albany Technical College is placing health care opportunities on wheels and taking it straight to the community.
The college hosted an open house to showcase its healthcare programs and celebrated the launch of its new MEDSTARTX van with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Attendees explored eleven unique healthcare programs and participated in hands-on demonstrations.
“We applied several years ago for congressional direct funding through the Congressman Bishop’s office, Senator Ossoff and Senator Warnock. We were able to receive those funds. We partnered with Phoebe on applying for this particular grant that awarded us $1,000,000 to not only buy the van for recruitment purposes, but also equipment for an instructional purposes in the Living Learning Facility,” said Dr. Emmett Griswold, President, Albany Technical College.
“In December of 2022, I supported passage of the FY2023 funding bill in congress. As a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, I was proud to have directly secured $1 million for Albany Technical College in the bill. The following February, I was here at Albany Tech to present a ceremonial check in that amount so that the college could purchase and staff a vehicle that would be able to be used to recruit potential students for the allied health programs,” said Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D), U.S. Congressman, State Representative, Ga. 2nd Congressional District.
The MEDSTARTX express vehicle serves a vital role in reaching rural communities, addressing travel barriers for students by bringing healthcare education opportunities directly to them.
“We’re always doing an assessment in terms of our enrollment and how we get students and where our students are coming from. At Albany Tech, we have a seven county service delivery area. And, what’s unique about that is Albany sits on the easternmost border of that. And, so, with that being said, you know, we go as far as 60 or 70 miles away in the county that we serve. So, that was one of the ways we needed to address that issue, and that is by getting to those areas in the MEDSTARTX express vehicle is going to solve that one mile at a time,” said Lisa Stephens, Associate Vice President, Business & Healthcare Programs.
Albany Tech offers a wide variety of healthcare programs, ranging from shorter-term certifications to specialized tracks in both direct and indirect patient care. With options designed to meet diverse interests and career goals, there’s something for everyone.
“If you’re interested in a health care opportunity, I strongly encourage you to go to www.albanytech.edu and click on the red apply now button, and get started on your health care career,” said Stephens.
De’Andra Jacobs reporting.
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