April 3, 2008

Venango Campus Allied Health Leaders Present Paper About UPMC Northwest Partnership at Statewide Healthcare Workforce Development Conference

OIL CITY, PA— Dr. Kathleen T. Patterson, director of Clarion University’s School of Nursing and Allied Health, located at the Venango Campus, and Professor Renee Bloom, chair of the Department of Allied Health, presented at the Pennsylvania Center of Health Careers Conference in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, on March 27, 2008.

Their presentation focused on the Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences degree program, in which students complete 60 credits of science and general education at the Venango or Clarion campuses of Clarion University before progressing to a 24-month clinical education program at one of six clinical partner sites. These sites are UPMC Northwest in Seneca, UPMC Horizon in Greenville, UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh, Armstrong Center for Medicine and Health in Kittanning, Sharon Regional Health System in Sharon, Clearfield Hospital in Clearfield, and Christ Hospital in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Entitled “Maximizing Student Outcomes: Creating a Continuous Quality Improvement Process Between University and Health Care Partners,” their presentation detailed an initiative developed in collaboration with colleagues at UPMC Northwest to support students who are in the clinical education component of the program. The template created by the university and hospital employs an interdisciplinary advising model that utilizes the diverse resources of both the university and hospital to improve quality and maximize student potential.

The Pennsylvania Center for Health Careers was created by the Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Board in 2004 to address the Commonwealth’s healthcare workforce challenges such as the critical need for professionals in nursing and allied health fields, including radiologic science and respiratory care.

Clarion University?Venango Campus, located in Oil City, is the oldest regional campus in Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education. The campus provides high-quality educational programs and personalized services to help students succeed. Students can begin any of Clarion University’s 90+ bachelor’s degrees at the Venango Campus, earn an associate degree, a bachelor’s or master’s degree in select areas, obtain a one-year certificate or participate in a variety of professional development and personal enrichment courses. The campus is home to Clarion University’s School of Nursing and Allied Health and its Department of Applied Technology. Clarion University?Venango Campus is committed to serving the needs of the community.