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PCA graduates are, seated from left, Loubna Zineedine, instructor Thomas Sullivan, RN, and Hind Kaltoum Rostoum; standing from left, Nicole Smith, Wendy Spencer, Wilman Mejia, Bernadette McDonough, Thersys Guerrero and Alexandra Gonzalez. Charmain Cherrie is not pictured.
“If someone in my family were admitted to BWH, I’d feel comfortable if any of you walked into the room to provide them care.”
That’s what Thomas J. Sullivan told the nine graduates of the Patient Care Assistant Training Program at last week’s commencement. Sullivan is the classroom instructor for the 15-week course offered through the collaboration of BWH’s Workforce Development and Bunker Hill Community College and funded partially through a grant from Fleet Charitable Trust.
To date, the program has graduated 65 PCAs, and 87 percent of those graduates remain at BWH. “This programs helps our employees advance their allied health careers and helps BWH build its workforce,” said Beverly Sobers, manager of Workforce Development. Often times, graduates of the PCA program go on to study Nursing.
Graduate Hind Kaltoum Rostoum, an anesthesia technician in Radiology, who spoke on behalf of the class, said, “The quality of my job has really improved as a result of this training. I am now much more knowledgeable and competent.” Hind hopes to continue her education and pursue a degree in Radiology.
The demand for PCAs and nurses nationwide is rising and will increase considerably at BWH with the opening of the Carl J. and Ruth Shapiro Cardiovascular Center in 2008, Sobers said. “It’s vitally important that we grow our workforce, especially with PCAs and nurses and technicians in Radiology, Anesthesia, Clinical Labs and on and on,” she said.
For more information about “Partners in Care” and a career in allied health, contact Workforce Development at 617-954-9556 or 617-954-9612.