By Staff
BENTON TOWNSHIP, MI – Despite high unemployment numbers in the region and the state, skilled healthcare workers continue to be in demand. In a 2004 report about the future of the healthcare workforce in Michigan, it was estimated that by 2015, the state could face a shortage of more than 58,000 licensed healthcare professionals in 21 in-demand occupations.
Many of these in-demand healthcare career tracks require just one or two years of college-level education, making them accessible to students who have recently graduated from high school as well as to adults who are interested in making a career change.
To inform area residents about local healthcare career training opportunities, Lake Michigan College is holding a free Healthcare Career Expo on Tuesday, July 22, at the Center for Outpatient Services at Lakeland Health Park, 3900 Hollywood Road in St. Joseph.
The Expo will be open from 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. for current medical professionals to learn about advanced training opportunities, and from 5 – 7 p.m. for the general public.
LMC faculty and staff will be on hand to discuss one- and two-year certificate and degree programs in dental assisting, emergency medical technician, MRI, medical office systems, nursing, paramedic, radiologic technology, and ultrasound.
Those interested in pursuing health careers that require more than two years of education can learn about transfer programs in pre-chiropractic, pre-dentistry, pre-medicine, pre-optometry, pre-pharmacy, pre-physical therapy, pre-physicians assistant and pre-veterinary medicine.
Information will be available about cooperative programs with Kalamazoo Valley Community College in dental hygienist, respiratory care, and medical assistant technology.
Representatives from Siena Heights University will also be in attendance with information on their undergraduate and graduate degree healthcare programs.
To pre-register for the LMC Healthcare Career Expo, go to www.lakemichigancollege.edu/ healthexpo or for more information, call 800-252-1562 ext. 5036.