(Source: CNW)
Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) unveiled a new medical assisting lab and classroom at Miami Carol City Senior High School on Tuesday, marking a major step forward in preparing students for careers in healthcare.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrated the expansion of the school’s Dual Enrollment Medical Assisting Program, now in its third year, which gives students the opportunity to earn industry certifications and hands-on experience while still in high school. The program is offered in partnership with Miami Lakes Educational Center and Technical College.
“Students at Miami Carol City Senior High don’t need to go anywhere else to get a head start in a rewarding career,” said Schools Superintendent Dr. Jose L. Dotres. “Right here at their school, they can earn a high school degree and a stackable credential in medical assistance, providing them with a direct pathway into the high-demand healthcare field.”
The new facility includes a classroom designed to resemble a doctor’s office, complete with exam beds, mannequins, and diagnostic equipment for practicing skills such as measuring vital signs. A computer lab with 25 laptops also allows students to complete course modules.
Currently, 75 students are enrolled in the program, taking specialized medical assisting courses each semester from 10th through 12th grade. Participants gain real-world skills such as taking vital signs, drawing blood, performing electrocardiograms (EKGs), administering injections, and assisting physicians with medical procedures.
“This program opens a pathway for healthcare careers, which are hard to replace with AI,” said Carol City Senior High Principal Bridget L. McKinney. “There will always be a human to service patients, and this program prepares students to walk into a medical assisting career right out of high school.”
Students can take a state exam at the end of the school year to earn certification as medical assistants, positioning them to enter the workforce immediately after graduation. Others may use the credits to pursue further studies in nursing or medicine.
For 11th grader Jada Lewis, the opportunity is already making an impact. “It’s such a life-changing opportunity for our students,” she said. “It’s a gateway to healthcare and a chance for us to start our career while still in high school, and not many can offer that.”
Rene Mantilla, Assistant Superintendent of the M-DCPS Office of Postsecondary Career and Technical Education, called the program “extremely meaningful” for students. “They’ll get their certification in phlebotomy, in EKG, and their medical assisting certification. It’s very comprehensive. Medical assisting is a key player in a hospital, a doctor’s office, and a clinic,” Mantilla said.
