Lieutenant Governor Polito Visits QCC for STEM Week

Quinsigamond Community College helped round out Massachusetts STEM Week with a visit by Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito.  On Friday, October 21, 2022, the Lt. Governor toured multiple labs at QCC’s Center for Workforce Development and Continuing Education.

Pat Schmohl, dean of the School of Healthcare, facilitated a tour that focused on a family-centered care simulation unit, radiologic technology lab, nursing simulation lab, and respiratory care lab. During the tour, the Lt. Governor met with many students who were receiving hands-on experience in a variety of laboratory settings.

"This is really important and obviously helps training for the real situation. It's amazing to have this at your fingertips," she said, adding to the students, “Thank you for choosing to be in a program like this that will lead to an incredible career.”

In the radiologic technology lab, Assistant Professor of Radiologic Technology Margaret Gniadek informed Polito that the equipment the students were training on was the same used in actual hospital settings. Dean Schmohl noted that $499,815 in Skills Capital Grant funding, was being used to update three nursing labs with high tech equipment, which will ease the demands on clinical sites.

Nurse Education Lab Coordinator Keara Holmes led students in an actual simulation manikin demonstration. Students checked the "patient's" vitals and asked questions as they would in a real hospital setting. Holmes listened from the next room and responded to students as the patient through a microphone housed in the manikin.

In a respiratory therapy lab, Associate Professor of Respiratory Therapy (and QCC respiratory therapy alum) Amy Hogan, Polito asked students how they decided on the field of respiratory therapy. Many students said they appreciate the flexibility of this type of career path because they have family and other responsibilities. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic shined a light on job security in this field.

Dean Schmohl noted that respiratory therapy students can start working in a hospital after their first year in the program and added that during the pandemic, QCC received national approval for respiratory care students to use paid hours to count as clinical hours.

"That approval enabled our students to get paid for their clinical hours and graduate on time. It's a win-win for students and patients," he said.

The Lt. Governor commended QCC for removing barriers to the successful completion of healthcare programs and the students for their commitment to this industry.

 "We can't solve the healthcare staffing shortages without you," she said.