ICYMI: Rep. Wild Celebrates Ribbon-Cutting of New Northampton Community College Interdisciplinary Healthcare Education and Workforce Development Center

This week, Congresswoman Wild attended the ribbon-cutting of the new Interdisciplinary Healthcare Education and Workforce Development Center at Northampton Community College (NCC), which she secured federal funding to help construct.

Located in Penn Hall, this new center will allow health care students at NCC to hone their skills through realistic simulations on representative models. Under the observation of their instructors, students will be better trained to handle real-world scenarios and reduce disparities in the health care system. With a majority of NCC graduates choosing to live and work in the Greater Lehigh Valley, these investments in students' education will directly impact the community's health care capabilities for generations to come.

The center is yet another example of Rep. Wild's work to advocate for education and workforce development programs across Pennsylvania's 7^th District.

Check out highlights of the coverage below:

Lehigh Valley News:New health education center opens at Northampton Community College

By Brittany Sweeny | September 3, 2024

• Officials on Tuesday cut the ribbon on NCC's new Interdisciplinary Healthcare Education and Workforce Development Center. The school secured federal funding to expand its health education offerings.

• The new center "offers interdisciplinary training for our nursing, our program development, radiography, sonography, radio, respiratory nursing, medical assisting, EMT, funeral services," NCC Dean of the School of Health Professions and Science Judy Rex said.

• Rex said U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, D-Lehigh County, was instrumental in getting the money for the project through community project funding.

• "This is going to really help our health care networks with more well skilled staff who can do all different kinds of things," said Wild, who toured the center in Penn Hall on the community college campus.

• The project was fully funded with a $2,729,288 Federal Earmark Grant. Northampton Community College had to submit an application, and the funding was awarded in June 2023 and runs through June 2026.

WFMZ:New medical education center unveiled in the Lehigh Valley

By Rob Manch | September 3, 2024

• Medical students in the Lehigh Valley have a new facility to help with their studies.

• "Students can literally work on a simulation that makes them feel as though they are working on patients," said U.S. Rep. Susan Wild.

• Wild helped secure more than $2.7 million in funding for the center.

• "It makes me very, very happy, because I know our healthcare networks are always in need of more highly skilled workers and specialties," said Rep. Wild.

• She and college administrators toured the facility to see some of the things it offers, like a realistic maternity ward, and computer equipment you would see in a real hospital. Health Professions and Science Dean Judy Rex said the center will keep students from having to travel elsewhere.

• Rep. Wild hopes it will encourage more students to stay here as medical professionals.

• "It just ensures that, for generations to come, the Lehigh Valley is going to be home to phenomenal medical care," said Rep. Wild.

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Issues:Health CareEducation