Jason Dunkel, AdventHealth president and CEO; Andrew Santos, chief operating officer at AdventHealth; Jamie Bateman, vice president for institutional advancement and external affairs at SFSC; and Fred Hawkins, president of SFSC
March 5, 2024 – This year’s South Florida State College (SFSC) Foundation Platinum Annual Sponsor is AdventHealth with locations in Sebring, Lake Placid, and Wauchula. Sponsor support improves the lives of our students and enhances our community.
“South Florida State College is a vital, longstanding partner for AdventHealth Sebring, Lake Placid, and Wauchula,” said Jason Dunkel, AdventHealth president and CEO. “Therefore, we’re proud to support the SFSC Foundation due to the deep community investment that will result.”
AdventHealth supports SFSC’s students, faculty, staff, and the region it serves. Students complete clinicals at AdventHealth locations and learn from their experienced and caring nurses. They are not just a generous sponsor; they are a community partner in providing opportunities for our Health Science students to receive the training and knowledge they need to pursue a lucrative and caring career in healthcare.
“We are grateful for the support of a community partner like AdventHealth,” said Jamie Bateman, vice president for institutional advancement and external affairs at SFSC. “Their dedication and passion for education and patient care enhance the opportunities available to our students in achieving their goals and impacting our communities.”
For more information on how to support the SFSC Foundation and Pave the Path to Success for our students, call 863-453-3133 or email foundation@southflorida.edu.
Deanna Rhyne, Sharmin Jones, and Jeremiah Sawyer
Oct. 28, 2022 – South Florida State College (SFSC) and AdventHealth Sebring celebrated four students for completing the Advanced Patient Care Technician (APCT) Apprentice program in a ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 27 in the AdventHealth Sebring Center for Nursing Excellence on the Highlands Campus at SFSC in Avon Park.
The SFSC students who completed the AdventHealth Sebring APCT Apprentice program are Marnita Johnson, Deanne Rhyne, Jeremiah Sawyer, and Christinna Williams. Rhyne and Sawyer were in attendance to receive their completion certificates from Elsie Graves, vice president and chief nursing officer for AdventHealth Sebring.
Jason Dunkel, CEO and president for AdventHealth Sebring, gave the keynote address and inspired the students to, “Think about your why. The APCT job description is only 50% of your job. The other 50% is the heart and compassion that you will be bringing to work every single day for every single patient. You have the competency, but you need the compassion.”
SFSC’s Dr. Michele Heston, interim vice president for academic affairs and student services, concluded the program by saying, “Don’t ever forget the reason you started this journey. In caring for others, you will receive so much more than you give.”
The APCT Apprentice program is 18 months of continuous on-the-job employment at AdventHealth Sebring with on-site and online instruction from qualified SFSC instructors. Students receive training in nursing, phlebotomy, EKG, and career transitions from SFSC while working with an experienced healthcare professional at AdventHealth Sebring. Upon completion, students are hired as APCTs and can transfer 8 credits toward the pursuit of a Nursing degree.
For information about the APCT Apprenticeship program, contact Danielle Ochoa, Health Sciences advisor, at 863-784-7027 or healthsciences@southflorida.edu.
AVON PARK, Fla. – Nov. 22, 2019 – South Florida State College (SFSC) is one of seven colleges in Florida awarded with the Florida Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant.
During the 2019 Legislative Session, Governor Ron DeSantis worked with the Florida Legislature to secure historic funding for Florida’s students and families, including $10 million dedicated to career and technical education for the newly created Florida Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant Program. The program provides competitive grants to eligible institutions to create or expand apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs.
The six other colleges receiving funds under this grant are the College of Central Florida, Daytona State College, Hillsborough Community College, Indian River State College, Miami Dade College, and Northwest Florida State College. Florida International University, 15 Florida school districts, and the ICTC Governing Board dba AMskills will receive funding as well.
SFSC was awarded the grant toward a new Advanced Patient Care Technician (APCT) Apprenticeship program in partnership with CareerSource Heartland and AdventHealth. The program will prepare apprentices for employment as nursing assistants, home health aides, and healthcare support occupations encompassing skills in phlebotomy and electrocardiography.
“This apprenticeship program establishes an opportunity to address the existing workforce gaps especially in our hospital(s) service area. The program also creates meaningful career opportunities for the residents of our local counties,” said Randy Surber, chief executive officer (CEO) for AdventHealth.
The workforce demand driving AdventHealth to sponsor and collaborate with SFSC to create an APCT apprenticeship will continue to accelerate such initiatives well into the future. The apprenticeship model, while relatively new in the healthcare industry, is rich with the potential to provide a pathway to a pipeline that fosters economic independence for individuals and their families and opens the door to future career opportunities.
“It has been a challenge for years to fill such positions and to train and retain individuals at this level of care provision,” said Elsie Graves, chief nursing office (CNO) at AdventHealth. Her perspective on the need to establish such an apprenticeship is that “We always, always need more hands at the bedside. The support such individuals provide can decrease caregiver burnout, provide meaningful work for a community in need, create a life-changing path to success while expanding employees’ skillsets. Participation in such a program has tremendous potential to foster economic independence for individuals and their families and opens the door to other career opportunities.”
The two-year apprenticeship program begins in January 2020 with an anticipated first cohort enrollment of 12. The criteria for selection includes:
- A minimum high school diploma or equivalent
- Completion of basic life support certification
- Satisfactory clearance provided by the sponsor, including background checks and clinical requirements
- Technical standards approval by the healthcare provider
- Contractual agreement for conditions of participation provided by the apprenticeship sponsor
- Adherence to all technical, clinical, and workplace requirements for the duration of the apprenticeship
“SFSC is grateful for Governor DeSantis’ support of the Florida Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant,” said Dr. Michele Heston, dean of health sciences at SFSC. “The demand for the role of the Advanced Patient Care Technician will address the need for a skilled workforce in health services by contributing to the economic development of the region served. The creation of an earn-while-you-learn opportunity for individuals, who otherwise would not be able to advance their careers, will build a more confident and resilient workforce.”
For more information about the new Advanced Patient Care Technician (APCT) Apprenticeship program, call 863-784-7027 or email healthsciences@southflorida.edu.
