School Of Health Sciences To Offer Two New Degrees This Fall
Two years ago, Medical Campus President Bryan Stewart met with hospitals in the area to discuss their urgent need for qualified medical professionals.
The coronavirus pandemic continued to accelerate that demand—now the School of Health Sciences at Miami Dade College is ready to lend a helping hand.
In the fall, Medical Campus will offer an associate’s degree in surgical technology and a bachelor’s degree in health sciences with a focus in medical laboratory sciences.
“We’re excited for these programs because we’re here to change students’ lives,” said Alwyn Leiba, who serves as dean of health services at Medical Campus. “We turn students into healthcare heroes.”
Associate’s Degree in Surgical Technology
The School of Health Sciences spent about two years planning for the associate’s degree in surgical technology.
During that time, they reviewed the Florida Board of Education’s framework for the degree, designed the program based on existing research, got approval from MDC’s Board of Trustees and finalized the accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.
The two-year degree will consist of 64 credits and has an estimated tuition cost of $7,566.08. It includes a curriculum that provides entry-level skills in health care, such as assisting during surgical procedures by handling instruments, supplies and equipment.
During their second year, students will attend clinical training at Jackson Memorial Hospital and Baptist Memorial Hospital. They will shadow a surgical technologist and participate in various surgical technologist activities in the operating room.
Twenty-two students will be accepted into the program this fall. Prior to admission into the cohort, students must complete prerequisite courses—such as two anatomy classes—for Medical Campus.
According to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunities, Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties will need about 682 surgical technologists each year between 2018 and 2026. In addition, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the employment of surgical technologists is projected to increase by 12 percent between 2016 and 2026.
“It’s going to end up being a really important pathway for a student who maybe doesn’t know what they want to do, but they know they want to help people and be in the healthcare industry,” Stewart said.
Bachelor’s Degree in Health Sciences
The School of Health Sciences has previously offered programs in clinical laboratory science and histotechnology. However, in order for graduates to become supervisors or managers in the medical laboratory science field, they must earn a bachelor’s degree related to the discipline.
During Stewart’s chat with local clinics and hospitals—such as Jackson Memorial Hospital and Baptist Memorial Hospital—he found out they lacked leaders in the medical laboratory science field because most supervisors and managers are retiring.
The 130-credit program will be completed over the course of two years and has an estimated tuition cost of $16,885.70. Sixty of those credits must be completed by serving as a clinical laboratory scientist or histotechnologist.
Courses will prepare students to conduct complex procedures on patient specimens. This includes performing and analyzing laboratory testing that could be used to diagnose, treat and prevent diseases.
Only 30 students will be accepted into the program this fall.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of medical laboratory technologists is projected to increase by 12 percent between 2018 and 2026.
“Any new program that the Medical Campus offers takes into consideration the people surrounding them, especially the effectiveness,” said Mily Vargas, president of the Medical Campus Student Government Association.
Both degrees are accepting applications until the first week of August.
To apply for the associate’s degree in surgical technology, contact Health Sciences Chair Ron Winston at (305) 237-4430 or rwinston@mdc.edu. Click here to apply for the bachelor’s degree in health sciences.
