About the Healthcare Careers Academy
The CCAC Healthcare Careers Academy is a two-week summer experience that is designed to expose 10th–12th grade students from the South Hills and Mon Valley areas to family-sustaining career options in health care, enabling them to discover that today's health care careers extend well beyond careers as physicians and nurses—and that many of these careers can be attained with a CCAC education. This project, which is funded by the Jefferson Regional Foundation, aims to empower students to increase their own economic mobility, and on a larger scale, improve the economic health of our region.
Students will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the various CCAC Allied Health and science laboratories, shadow in a hospital setting, find potential mentors within the field, and have discussions with hospital health care professionals about the important work they do. Through critical thinking exercises, students will build the skills that form the basis of critical judgment—a key component for success in nursing and other health career programs. In addition, the program will involve participants in a variety of soft skills exercises aimed at helping them overcome identified barriers to success.
NEW INCENTIVE: Students will be awarded up to a $250 gift card based on attendance.
Registration is now full.
Held at CCAC's South Campus, the academy is open to students in grades 10, 11 and 12 in the South Hills-Mon Valley area.
A free weekly PRT bus pass or gas card is available. For more information, view the Healthcare Careers Academy Flyer. Please send any questions to HCAcademy@ccac.edu.
Participate in Self-Confidence Sessions To Promote Your Success
- Mindfulness
- Wellness
- Networking
- Breaking self-doubt
Strengthen Your Soft Skills
- Resume & portfolio building
- Time management
- Leadership
- Stress management
- Teamwork
- Problem-solving
Testimonials
I would definitely recommend this experience due to the overwhelming amount of exposure to, not only the healthcare field, but other great qualities to have in the future. The Academy taught me time management skills, how to improve my emotional intelligence, and how to do well in interviews while making friends along the way. The experience was beneficial and showed me how important the medical field is and how each profession contributes to the patients safety and wellbeing.
I thought we were just learning more about the general health careers everyone knows about. I learned so much more than what I thought I knew. For example, at the hospital I never knew that there was a specific department for cleaning the instruments and preparing carts. I would recommend this program even if you do not have an interest in the medical field. It teaches you a lot about yourself and the people around you.
I just attended the CCAC Career Academy and I wanted to reach out and say thank you! It was an incredible experience and I learned so much. So much of what we got to do, like the hospital tour, the speakers, or the heart dissection, I likely would never have found elsewhere. Please forward my thanks to the academy leaders and speakers!
Learn a Variety of Medical & Laboratory Procedures
- Aseptic technique
- Microscopy
- Specimen processing
- And more…
Camp Leadership
CCAC's Healthcare Careers Academy is led by a cohort of knowledgeable STEM and Allied Health education professionals, who have many years of experience not only in the higher ed classroom but also in their related fields.
Dr. Juel Smith - Advisor
Professor Tracey Weber - Director
Professor Nicole Benjamin - Assistant Director
Patricia Donehue - Program Coordinator