Starting this fall, Owensboro Health and OCTC will partner on a program that aims to train forty-five new Certified Medical Technicians before June 30th, 2023. The program is funded by a $325,000 grant from the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education.

Owensboro Health will select students and hire them as Patient Care Technicians prior to the start of classes. Three groups of fifteen students, the first beginning October 24th and the next beginning in January and April, will follow a “work and learn” model. This model will allow the students to work at Owensboro Health with educational release time to travel to OCTC and complete their credentials.

The credentials the students will earn are the State Registered Nursing Assistant, Phlebotomy Technician, Certified Medical Technician, and the Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Certificate.

“Owensboro Health is proud to collaborate with OCTC on this innovative approach to developing the next generation of healthcare workers and providing them with new pathways to career success and fulfillment,” said Mark Marsh, President and CEO of Owensboro Health. “This outstanding program is another example of how our communities are meeting the region’s most vital challenges through teamwork and creativity.”

“OCTC is grateful to CPE for this opportunity, and we are excited to partner with Owensboro Health to help meet their current and future direct patient care hiring needs,” said OCTC President Dr. Scott Williams. “We are proud to be a part of this novel, public-private collaborative approach to help address the healthcare workforce shortage.”

Scholarships are available for this program along with other assistance such as childcare, books, supplies, etc. For more information on this program and help with registration, enrollment, or other student needs contact LaTasha Shemwell at latasha.shemwell@kctcs.edu or 270-686-4455.