Cougar CTE check-in: Russell Medical Center
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Abbigail Veitch at RMC for her first day on the job. Photo submitted
RMC at CCCTC Awards Day with signees. Photo submitted
Special to the News
Submitted by Hester Hamby, CCCTC director
Coosa County Career Tech Center is proud to have been a part of Abbigail Veitch’s first day on the job at Russell Medical Center.
Abbigail participated in a health science dual enrollment class as part of her Career and Technical Education (CTE) programming before graduating from Central High School of Coosa County. These classes taught by an adjunct at Central Alabama Community College cemented her belief that she wanted to pursue a career in the medical field.
Abbigail also took advantage of her enrollment in the JAG (Jobs for Alabama Graduates) program housed at the CTE Center by participating in the hiring event this past April where she was interviewed by Eric Miller of Russell Medical Center (RMC).
Having taken note of the skills that she learned from her JAG classes, Abbigail made sure to follow up with RMC after the interview and was contacted a short time after to discuss her options further. Mr. Miller then attended the annual CTE Awards Luncheon in May and recognized this outstanding student by extending a job offer, pending her graduation from Central High School of Coosa County.
Coosa County Career Tech Center is proud to be able to partner with local businesses like Russell Medical Center, which is celebrating its 100th birthday of serving our community not only with high quality medical care, but through supporting community members through involvement with local events and our school.
Since the reopening of Coosa County Career Tech Center (CCCTC) last August, RMC has participated in several activities to encourage and recruit our students to become RMC employees. When Holly Williams, RMC HR director, was contacted earlier in the year about students touring the hospital campus, she was happy to coordinate with CCCTC to make this happen and worked with several department heads to ensure that our students were able to see parts of the hospital they may have never before known existed, including the lab area, where students toured and were allowed to see slides of blood cells under the microscope and learned the process for blood typing a sample and the qualifications and certifications that are needed to work in these areas.
RMC’s wound center’s administrator, Karen Treadwell, also hosted our students that participated in the Chew & Chat health science day allowing them to see the hyperbaric chambers in action and describing in detail to them the science behind the benefit of this fascinating medical marvel. Treadwell also gave students some great advice about how to present themselves to potential employers and the importance of always striving to be your best because you never know who might be watching before offering to assist any of our students with college applications and essays.
Later in the year, Cara Holt Tidwell, director of Total Fitness at RMC, came to the school to talk with our students about many of the job opportunities that were available within her department which includes not only fitness classes and gym areas, but cardiac rehab and physical therapy, as well. She echoed Treadwell’s advice of always putting your best foot forward and taking hold of any opportunity given with two hands and doing your best so that you get the most out of the experience.
She also took the time to go over all of the credentials that could be earned and utilized for jobs in her department and invited our students to apply for summer and part-time jobs while in high school and college.
Tidwell also noted that she had been given a great opportunity to work at RMC before she completed college and that her former boss was very receptive to her coming back to RMC after she completed her degree, and she has enjoyed working in the community that she grew up in. Before leaving Tidwell led our health science students in a brief fitness class, as well, and made sure that she left us and our students on our feet dancing.
After graduation, Abbigail contacted CCCTC to let us know that she was starting her new position, and Mrs. Williams graciously allowed us to come congratulate her on her big day and described the training that Abbigail was currently receiving on the job and the various pathways that she would be able to pursue as she hones her skills in her current position.
It is clear to CCCTC that RMC is committed to being a part of our CTE programming and to providing opportunities for our students and children to become employed and remain in our communities for another 100 years. CCCTC wishes RMC a happy birthday and looks forward to training the next generation of health care professionals alongside RMC.