CENTURY COLLEGE
Health Sciences
Programs
at Century
College are
Thriving
All photos courtesy of Century College.
A
healthy community relies upon
healthy people. Likewise, Century
College’s Health Sciences programs
and degrees are a large priority for the
college. Right now in Minnesota, there
is significantly more open positions in
healthcare than skilled workers available
to fill them.
Century College is striving to close the
skills gap with programs in a number
of high-demand areas of healthcare,
including nursing, medical assisting, and
EMS. The Health Sciences programs
have received recognition across
Minnesota for producing graduates that
are prepared to excel in their fields.
The driving force for these programs
is excellent faculty, according to Beth
Hein, Academic Dean of Health and
Human Services Pathways.
“I believe our faculty are what keep
our Health Sciences programs strong,”
said Hein. “The connections they
make with our community, our industry
partners, and our students show their
commitment to success.”
TOP-RANKED PROGRAMS
This commitment is evident by
the proven quality of their Health
Sciences programs. Century College’s
Associate Degree Nursing program is
ranked #2 among public and private
university programs in Minnesota by
registerednursing.org.
Century College’s Medical Assistant
program is ranked #2 in Minnesota, and
#1 among Associate Degree programs
in the nation, as determined by
topmedicalassistantprograms.com.
at HealthPartners. The organization
provided a full scholarship for Vang,
which paid for her entire college
education – including books.
Century College also works to address
the need for orthotics and prosthetics
professionals. An estimated 28 million
people nationwide are at risk for
amputation; yet, Century College is
one of only 13 prosthetic and orthotics
programs in the country.
With such a dire need for professionals
in the field, it’s no surprise that Century
College has maintained a nearly 100
percent employment rate for Orthotics
and Prosthetics graduates.
FORGING PARTNERSHIPS,
CREATING OPPORTUNITIES
A key reason Century College’s Health
Sciences programs succeed is the
strong partnerships with healthcare
providers in the region. Since the
Health Sciences faculty have extensive
experience or continue to work in the
fields they are teaching, they have
managed to maintain great relationships
have within the industry.
These relationships have been a boon
for students, who are connected to a
wide range of internship opportunities.
This includes Medical Assistant
student Lily Vang, who was accepted
for a paid apprenticeship program
“It was very helpful to practice what I
was learning in class in a real clinic,”
said Vang. “I felt like I had an upper-
hand over my classmates.”
Clinical and hands-on training plays a
large role in Century College’s Health
Sciences programs. Students are often
required to work hundreds of internship
hours, which includes taking shifts in
hospitals; and for EMS students, shifts in
ambulances.
“The health systems trust us,” said
Fadumasara Ali, Associate Dean of
Health Sciences. “Once they know
there’s a Century College student,
they’ll take them.”
century.edu
vhedc.com
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