With an aging population and healthcare crises such as COVID-19, experts and concerned citizens are beginning to look at the healthcare industry with growing concern.

Healthcare jobs are projected to grow 16% over the next 10 years per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employers worry about filling open positions, while potential patients worry about receiving the care they need. Fortunately, there are many solutions to staffing problems, and one of those begins at Quitman High School. 

Providing the healthcare industry with qualified workers from their Health Sciences program for over 10 years is one of Quitman High School’s best kept secrets. QHS’s Health Sciences program is led by QHS alumni Brittany Emerson, who took over in 2012. With around 60 students in the program, Emerson hopes to help address some of the shortages by providing students who are ready to go into the industry, some as soon as they finish high school. 

The program offers certifications in pharmacy technician and clinical medical assistance. The pharmacy technician program teaches students everything they need to know to become a certified technician. 

Cheyanne Williams, a 2020 QHS graduate, received her technician certification in June 2020. She is working as a technician for a CVS pharmacy while she attends college at Stephen F. Austin. Williams said that the Health Sciences curriculum at Quitman prepared her for her college career, in addition to providing her a practical way to pay for college.

She said, “A lot of the material we covered then is now coming back in my college classes. I’m sometimes steps ahead of the rest of my classmates.”

Williams also credits the Health Science program with helping her be a better student.

“I truly learned how to study and what works best for me. I worked throughout most of high school so taking those classes, plus having to work taught me about time management,” said Williams.  

Not only is Williams a better student but also makes “more than the average college student does, and my job is teaching me stuff I need for my classes.”

Emerson said that the number of students in the pharmacy technician program varies each year. Once the student completes the coursework, the school will pay for the student to take the certification test once. 

The newest certification program is the clinical medical assistant (CMA) program, which began in the fall. Students who receive this certification may be hired to work in doctor’s offices performing a variety of duties including noting patient histories, measuring vital signs like blood pressure, prepping samples for lab tests, changing sutures and much more. This certification provides an all-around skill set for students who wish to go into the medical field. QHS also pays for a student to take the certification exam upon completion of the coursework.

Given the popularity of the Health Sciences program, Emerson was able to add Hannah McKinney to teach basic health science classes this year. The students are learning things such as how to draw blood and take blood pressures, along with learning medical terminology. Students also have the opportunity to attain Basic Life Support CPR certification through the American Heart Association. The certification includes learning how to perform CPR on infants, youth and adults. Forty-five students received this certification recently through the program.

In addition to the basic courses and the two certification programs, the Health Sciences program has partnered with UT Health in Quitman for a practicum class. Ten students have been accepted and have recently begun working at the hospital two days a week during 4th and 5th periods.

UT Health Quitman CEO, Jared Smith is excited to see the students at the hospital.

“I’m proud to see UT Quitman Hospital being part of the education and development of our high school students. I’m hoping that students are able to better know the career paths that they want to pursue by spending time with us. Our staff is excited to be a part of the student experience.”

During the course of their practicum, the students will spend about two days in each department. Emerson explained how a day might look for a student.

“For example, some students will be split up and sent to the operating room and dietary certain days because the hospital doesn’t always perform surgeries on the days the students are on site. On those days the students might go to dietary and see the importance of what the kitchen does and what food they make and how they do that per patient.”

Emerson said one of the things that she really liked about this agreement with UT Health Quitman is that students learn as much about how to communicate with adults as they do about the actual details of each job. Each student is encouraged to ask questions and make connections. Each student will have the opportunity for one-on-one conversations with health care professionals from many different areas and have the opportunity to learn about different positions in each field. This allows students to learn about different career paths and may spark an interest in a new direction for the student. 

Whatever route a student chooses, they will graduate Quitman High School with more options for their futures.

Williams said, “The Health Science Program is a wonderful opportunity for students. Ms. Emerson actually prepares you for the real world.”