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1,300 students storm Sylvania to learn about health care careers

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Robyn Cole of OIT helps students Wednesday at Sylvania

Six days to go.

So you’re wondering if there’s any point in offering more allied health classes, which PCC would do if the bond is successful.

Ask Ashley Levario or Kolab Ouk. Ashley’s a junior and Kolab is a senior at Tigard High School. Both were at the Sylvania Campus today for PCC’s 13th annual health careers day.

They were among an estimated 1,300 students and teachers from throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington who made the trek to Sylvania to hear about career options in the health care arena. Twenty-four booths were set up in the College Center, representing schools and organizations from throughout Oregon.

That includes Robyn Cole (pictured), who serves on the medical imaging faculty at the Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls.

“I’m interested in the medial field. I want to help people,” Ashley said.

Did she learn anything? “Yeah. I learned I don’t want to be an EMT!” she said with a shudder. Being a former cops-and-courts reporter, I’m with her on that. As first-responders to accidents, emergency medical technicians often see the worst of the worst.

“I’m thinking about nurse practitioners,” Ashley added. “That’s pretty cool.”

Kolab came with an open mind. “We just wanted to see what the options were. This is great.”

Should voters say “yes” to PCC’s bond, the plan is to expand allied health offerings into Washington County and the Cascade Campus.

Send your feedback to dana.haynes@pcc.edu. And thanks in advance.

About Dana Haynes

Dana Haynes, joined PCC in 2007 as the manager of the Office of Public Affairs, directing the college's media and government relations. Haynes spent the previous 20 years as a reporter, columnist and editor for Oregon newspapers, including ... more »