Health and Education
Dedicated to promoting , supporting and advancing the quality of both health care and education in the Mountain State , the Potomac Highlands region is making great strides through the addition of new scholarship opportunities and innovative programs .
Davis Health System recently announced its decision to join Vandalia Health , a 2022 collaboration between Mon Health System and Charleston Area Medical Center to improve health care opportunities across the state .
“ We will be connected to hospitals that have a higher level of service than what we can provide ,” says Vance Jackson , president and CEO for Davis Health System .
Coming out of the pandemic and seeing an extreme need for health care professionals also drove Davis Health System to create The Davis Academy , a program that offers recent high school graduates the opportunity to rotate through various areas of the hospital and potentially be placed in an entry-level position after one year of training and experience .
“ At the end of that year , they can choose to become employed in that position or we would facilitate them to further their education ,” says Jackson .
Photo by Eastern West Virginia Community & Technical College .
With more and more students seeking virtual education since the COVID-19 pandemic , Eastern West Virginia Community & Technical College in Hardy County has recently offered five new , fully online programs .
“ We have a pretty high online population ,” says Dr . Tom Striplin , president of the college . “ It grew considerably post-COVID and has stayed that way .”
The institution also offers an aviation maintenance degree and recently received a $ 160,000 grant that will be used toward solar technology opportunities .
Davis & Elkins College ( D & E ), a private institution in Randolph County , was just rated as one of three financially healthy institutions in West Virginia . Dedicated to putting quality health care professionals into the workforce , D & E offers multiple nursing program options .
“ Recently , we have two newer programs ,” says Dr . Robert Phillips , provost and vice president of academic affairs at D & E . “ One is our four-year BSN in-person program . This past year , we graduated our first class with that degree , so we ’ re very happy about that . We also received full accreditation this year for that program .”
Photo by Davis & Elkins College .
D & E also partners with many local health care facilities such as Mon Health and Davis Medical Center to provide ample scholarship and employment opportunities within the Mountain State .
“ Many of our students are West Virginia natives ,” says Phillips . “ Many come from surrounding counties and many wish to work and live in West Virginia . With our new programs , we ’ re hoping to eventually graduate 20 to 30 students a year , so that ’ s 20 to 30 more nurses that are potentially going to be able to serve in the state .”
Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser , WV , is known for its small class sizes , student-centered focus and entrepreneurial spirit . With the main goal of offering high-quality yet affordable education , this institution offers over 55 two-year degree programs and six career-technical programs , including a bachelor of applied science degree with an emphasis in business management , computer information systems , criminal justice and sustainable agriculture entrepreneurship .
“ Potomac State College is unique in that we are a small , personal , community-based campus providing high-quality , low-cost education for this region of West Virginia and the surrounding states , but we are also a full portal of entry into the West Virginia University ( WVU ) system as a regional campus of the state ’ s flagship ,” says Chris Gilmer , president of the college . “ You can start with us and finish with us , or you can start with us and transfer seamlessly to another WVU campus . I often say it ’ s the only place in the world where you can be a Catamount and a Mountaineer at the same time .”
Located in Keyser , WV , Potomac State College is perfect for students looking to study on a beautiful campus that feels just like a home away from home .
Photo by WVU Potomac State College .
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