Students in the Healthcare Entry-Level Professional Skills (HELPrS) program recently spent time learning more about radiography. HELPrS is an immersive, six-week summer program in which participants explore health care professions both on and off campus, learn about college life and get to practice important professional skills needed in the health care workforce.
Listen to the latest edition of the LLCC Podcast, which features Leigh Giles-Brown, program director, diagnostic medical sonography, discussing LLCC’s sonography programs and the Healthcare Entry-Level Professional Skills (HELPrS) grant-funded summer program.
The HELPrS program is in its second week, but this is the first week of job shadowing. There are 12 students from Southeast, Lanphier, Virginia, Sacred Heart-Griffin and Springfield High Schools who are divided into three groups. They are job shadowing at Memorial Hospital, Springfield Clinic and St. John’s Hospital for four hours each Tuesday and Thursday.
Diane L. Wilson, program director, neurodiagnostic technology (NDT), was interviewed by WTIM radio yesterday about the new certificate option in the NDT program, format of classes and job prospects.
Bill Harmon, LLCC agriculture program coordinator, was interviewed by Illinois Radio Network about the LLCC Agriculture program and opportunities available in ag.
Leigh Giles-Brown, program director, diagnostic medical sonography, was interviewed June 1 on WTAX regarding the HELPrS program, offering 15 high school seniors a paid, six-week health careers exploration this summer.
LLCC has been awarded a grant to allow 15 prospective health professions students to explore health care careers this summer while getting paid.
The HELPrS (Healthcare Entry-Level Professional Skills) program will run July 3-Aug. 10, Mondays through Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Participants will be paid $15 per hour (a total of more than $1,400) while experiencing a variety of health professions and job shadowing. The program also provides free uniforms, books, lunches and transportation to health care sites.
Students who will be high school seniors in fall 2023, as well as recent high school graduates, are eligible (ages 16-20).
“This six-week program will expose students to multiple health care career options,” said Leigh Giles-Brown, program director, diagnostic medical sonography at LLCC. “These include radiography, sonography, neurodiagnostic technology, respiratory care, occupational therapy assistant, emergency medical services and nursing.
“We want to open students’ eyes to the many possibilities available in the medical field. They’ll explore health care professions both on and off campus, learn about college life and get to practice important professional skills needed in the workforce — all while getting paid!”
The program aims to enhance diverse representation in the health care field, with priority given to minorities and males. Applicants from Lanphier High School, Southeast High School and Virginia High School will receive special consideration.
Registration is required by June 16, 2023 with more information available at www.llcc.edu/helprs.
HELPrS is made possible by the Trades School Grant Program and awarded through the Illinois Community College Board.
On May 15, Carrie Jacobs, administrative assistant to the dean of health professions, graduated from Greenville University. She earned a Master of Science degree with an emphasis on management. Congratulations!
Saturday, May 13, newly graduated nursing students were celebrated in a pinning ceremony held in Cass Gym. A pinning ceremony is a tradition for new nurses in which a nurse of significance in their life pins them with a specially designed pin. The ceremony culminates with all nurses in attendance reciting the Florence Nightingale Pledge. This semester’s celebration honored 45 students having just graduated.
As part of the ceremony, five students were inducted into the the Organization for Associate Degree Nursing Alpha Delta Nu Honor Society. The students have excelled in their general education and nursing studies and completed a community service project.
Congratulations to all of this year’s nursing graduates and special thanks to their honored pinners, ADN faculty, for being an inspiration to these new nurses!
Recently LLCC’s IV Leaguer student nursing club challenged their student nursing peers to see which cohort could donate the most breakfast food items. The winning class would have bragging rights and select the school district that would be the recipients of the collected food items. The winning cohort was the graduating class and they decided Springfield D186 students should benefit!
On Monday, students of the winning class and club officers delivered four boxes of collected breakfast foods to the students of Grant Middle School. The graduated nursing students shared some of their tips for success with the middle school students, which include starting each day with a healthy breakfast.
Pictured (l-r) with GMS sixth grade students are Betsy Squires, outgoing club secretary, Lily Anderson, outgoing club president, Sarina Sloman, club vice president, and Kim Young, one of the club’s advisors.
On May 5, Marcie Leonard, assistant professor of nursing, graduated from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville! She earned a doctorate of nursing practice with an emphasis in executive leadership and is a member of Epsilon Eta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society. Congratulations to Marcie for all of her hard work and earned achievements!