By Courtney Morris Dr. Kira Beal will always remember the scene. A patient with tongue cancer had just come out of reconstructive surgery. Suddenly, her cell phone rang, and out of instinct, she answered. It was then she realized she couldn’t speak. “She was visibly upset. You could see the frustration, pain, and sheer helplessness on her face,” Beal said. “No one had thought to...

By Courtney Morris What if medical professionals had to wait for real patients in life-threatening situations to practice lifesaving workforce collaboration? It’s no secret paramedics, doctors, nurses, and others work together to save lives. But opportunities for future health care providers to practice this critical teamwork are rare. San Jacinto College is working to ensure best...

By Andrea Vasquez When it comes to ground-breaking medical research and one of the most culturally diverse arrays of patients seen by the hour, the Texas Medical Center (TMC) in Houston continues to be at the forefront of innovation.  As the largest medical complex in the world, TMC sees 10 million patients per year and has more than $3 billion in current construction projects. In 2018,...

By Melissa Trevizo Outside of doctors and nurses, many professions help hospitals and medical facilities run smoothly. Biomedical equipment technicians are some of these essential personnel. “Biomed tech is not a well-known profession, but it is growing,” said Michael Brown, San Jacinto College professor. “The industry is in high demand, and right now we have a full program of 72...

By Courtney Morris Enrolling in a San Jacinto College health science program?  Then chances are you’ve heard of clinical rotations — unpaid work-based learning experiences in settings like doctors’ offices, clinics, and hospitals. [caption id="attachment_45" align="alignright" width="214"] Students in surgical technology and other health science programs participate in clinical...

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By Melissa Trevizo Gabrielle Rodriguez has completed the certified nursing aide, certified medication aide, and medical office professional programs at San Jacinto College all made possible through the Health Profession Opportunity Grant (HPOG). “I’ve always known that I wanted to work with people and help them in some way,” Rodriguez said. “I knew that the medical field was...

By Courtney Morris As the nursing students leaned toward the child patient simulator, one holding an IV needle, they didn’t expect what happened next: the manikin screamed. San Jacinto College simulation lab coordinator Karen Malloy laughs as she remembers remotely manipulating SimJunior — a four-foot-long manikin in a hospital bed — to mimic how a six-year-old might behave. “I...

Exploring careers in Medical Assisting, Medical Coding and Billing, and Medical Office Support By Torrie Hardcastle Are you interested in health care? Realize your full potential with a medical office career. With the number of health care procedures increasing as the population ages, there is a very high demand for skilled specialists in patient information technology, medical assisting,...

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