This pre-professional course gives the students opportunities to acquire the knowledge, skills and professional behaviors required of a safe, competent worker in the health occupations field. The HST course of study includes: communication skills; personal and community health; medical terminology; body structure and functions; cause and effect of disease; First Aid and CPR; bedside care; and medical office skills. Field trips and clinical experience will be scheduled in local health care facilities. Senior students may participate in the work based learning program in jobs such as nurse aide/assistant, medical and dietary services, record clerk and medical secretary. Upon successful completion of this program, students may secure immediate employment as an entry-level worker in health care facilities or they may continue their education in a specific health career such as practical nursing, professional nursing, physical therapy, respiratory care, radiology, dentistry or any number of related medical fields.
Entry-level earnings
Dietetic Technician $16,000-$34,000
Home Health Aide $15,000-$26,000
Medical Assistant $19,500-$36,000
Medical Transcriptionist $21,000-$39,000
Nursing Aides $18,000-$32,000
Personal and Home Care Aide $16,000-$26,000
Pharmacy Technician $25,000
Physical Therapy Aide $22,000
Respiratory Therapist $51,000
Surgical Technologist $35,000
Student Certifications
NATCEP - Nurse Aide Training Competency and Evaluation Program
NOCTI - National Occupational Competency Testing Institute Certification
Accreditations
Nurse Aide Training Competency and Evaluation Program (NATCEP)
INSTRUCTOR
Mrs. Alice K. Bowers
Biography
I am married with one child. I am a veteran of the United States Air Force (Job-Law Enforcement Specialist). I worked as a secretary in a local business prior to receiving my nursing degree and license. I worked in a doctor’s office until getting a job at Berks Heim.
Date of hire: August 2004
Education
Associates Degree in Science from Reading Area Community College
Vocational Education I Teaching Certification – Temple University
Certifications
Registered Nurse License – PA
Teach the Educator – 2004
American Heart Association Professional CPR/AED
Nurse Aide Program Instructor
Experience
Secretary for a local business
Charge Nurse at Berks Heim for seven years
United States Air Force Law Enforcement Specialist for five years
Community service
HOSA Advisor for the Pioneer Chapter
Participate in community service activities with students such as the Temple Halloween Parade, Reading Christmas parade, Relay for Life, and the Heritage Festival.
Interests
I enjoy spending time with my family, traveling, reading books, and needle work.
Message
Students need to be dedicated and motivated to learn the information provided in the health science program. There is a lot of bookwork and skills that will be learned in the first and second year of the program. Each and every day something new is learned and students must want to learn new things. Parents should support their children and assist them as needed to help them grow as a student and a prospective health care worker.
INSTRUCTOR
Mrs. Linda L. Seidel, RN
Biography
As a nurse and teacher, I have worked more than 30 years in the health care field. My areas of concentration in nursing include critical care, kidney dialysis, intravenous therapy, and long-term care. I worked in acute care as well as long-term care and home care settings in staff and administrative positions as a Director of Nursing. As a nurse consultant, I developed IV Therapy programs for long-term care facilities and consulted for Joint Commission Accreditation. Early in my career, I taught on the post-secondary level and directed a medical secretarial program for nine years. I have always loved teaching in the classroom, hospital, or home care setting.
Date of hire: August 1994
Education
ADN/RN, cum laude, Alvernia College 1985
VOC II Certification, Temple University
Certifications
RN (PA and NJ)
IV & Central Line Certification
PICC Line Certification
Experience
McCann School of Business-Director, Medical Secretarial Course 1972-1983
Berks Heim, Reading Hospital, Saint Joseph Med. Ctr, Totalcare
Pharmacy Services, Professional HomeCare Service
Community service
HOSA Advisor for Heritage Chapter, HOSA Alumni Advisor, PENN HOSA Task Force Member
RedCross-RN since 1983 and Youth Services Committee since 1997
Toys for Tots, MS Walk, Humane Society since 1990
Advisory Committee of RACC RN & LPN Department since 1997
BTI Advisory Committee
Interests
I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, reading, knitting, and cooking. I like to go to Hawk Mountain, Cape May, and Nantucket. I really enjoy taking Bandit, our dachshund, out for walks. I also enjoy spending time with my grandson, Nicholas.
Awards
Graduated cum laude from Alvernia College in 1985
Outstanding HOSA Advisor in Pennsylvania 2000 & Nation
Served on Steering Committee Governors Institute for Teachers
Advisor of PA & National Outstanding HOSA Chapter for six consecutive years
Message
An education in the Health Science Technology Field will open the doors to many opportunities and an exciting future in health care. Learn the skills and knowledge that will enable you to enter a fast-growing career field.
INSTRUCTOR
Mrs. Margaret A. Stephenson
Biography
As a fourth generation Greek- American, I still read, write and speak Greek! In addition, I studied German for nine years and speak a little Spanish. My family consists of my wonderful husband, my two children, and a spoiled Siamese cat. In my free time, I enjoy fiction writing and reading.
Date of hire: August 1997
Education
RN: Reading Hospital Hospital School of Nursing
RACC; St. Joseph’s University, Maine
Vocational ll certification, Temple University
Certifications
Registered Nurse license – PA
Experience
Former neurosurgical, medical/surgical nurse at the Reading Hospital & Medical Center
Former psychiatric, geriatric, geropsychiatric nurse and relief building supervisor at the Wernersville State Hospital
Former Medical/Secretarial Instructor at Berks Technical Institute
Community service
Sunday School teacher, St. Xenia Philoptochos Society, HOSA Advisor for the HOSA Pride chapter
Interests
I enjoy fiction writing and reading.
Awards
Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers
National Honor Society
Dean’s List
Message
Choose a career path that not only provides job security but also enhances your emotional well-being. A career in medicine, whether it is in clinical or allied health, will allow you to make a difference in the lives of others. Come and visit our program to learn why our students’ lives are changed forever by the Health Science Technology program!
INSTRUCTOR
Mrs. Norma Tamayo
Biography
I was born and raised in New York City. Although I was born in the United States, my background is of Puerto Rican descent. I speak Spanish and English fluently. As a child, my dream was to work in the medical field. I pursued my nursing career while working as a nursing assistant at The Reading Hospital and Medical Center. I enrolled in the RN nursing program at Reading Area Community College and graduated in 1986. Upon graduation, I continued to work at the hospital for a total of 20 years.
Date of hire: August 1997
Education
RN, Reading Area Community College; Voc. ll Cetification, Temple University; Massage Therapist, Academy of Massage Therapy and Body Works
Certifications
Registered Nurse; Teach the Educator, 1998; CPR; Massage Therapist
Experience
My diverse nursing experience includes 20 years working in various departments at the Reading Hospital and Medical Center. Such departments include the intensive care unit, delivery and operating rooms. I attained a managerial position while employed in the hospital's Outpatient Department. I also worked at St. Joseph Hospital's drug and alcohol rehabilitation center and mental health unit. I continue to work part-time for a home health agency.
I have been a teacher for over 10 years. I am currently teaching the Health Science Technology program and I am also the advisor for the HOSA Freedom Chapter. I taught the Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program for five years and co-wrote the Pennsylvania Nurse Aide Curriculum for the Department of Education.
Community service
I participate in many health-related events throughout the city of Reading.
Interests
My interests are dancing and acting in plays. I wrote the script for the "Enough is Enough, Stop Teen Violence" mini-play and would like to continue to write scripts for my students to perform on stage. I enjoy networking with other professionals. My favorite sport is football. My main love, however, is teaching and sharing my knowledge and work experiences with my students. I constantly change the delivery of my lesson plans to accommodate each student's learning style.
Awards
Advisor of the HOSA Freedom Chapter
Co-writer of Pennsylvania’s Nurse Aide Curriculum
Nominated for the Disney's American Teacher Awards
Nominated for Who's Who among America's Teacher
Outstanding HOSA Advisor State and National, 2008
Message
One of my favorite messages is, “Everything you do in life requires some form of sacrifice.”