Health
Careers
Program Description
Health Careers at the Windham Regional Career Center introduces students to a variety of medical, biomedical, and healthcare occupations. Due to the program’s multiple pathways, students are prepared to either pursue healthcare work after high school graduation or continue on to additional education at the college level. Many students choose to do both: working part-time in the field while attending college, often with financial help from their employer. Students are encouraged to participate in both the BUHS/WRCC STEM Academy and HOSA, a national organization for students pursuing careers in healthcare.
Nutrition/Human Growth & Development
The focus of the Nutrition class is to provide sound, relevant background knowledge in the science of human nutrition and to translate the scientific principles of nutrition into applicable concepts of care. This course offers opportunities for the student to identify dietary modifications relating to the development stage of the patient as well as the role of adequate nutrition in maintaining the health of the individual throughout the life-span. *This course is offered for college credit.
The focus of the Human Growth and Development class provides an overview of the physical, intellectual, cognitive, language, social, and emotional development of human beings from birth to adolescence. Emphasizes how hereditary and environmental influences impact the development of the whole child.
Medical Terminology/Licensed Nurse Assistant
This course includes an introduction to the many career opportunities in the healthcare and biomedical sciences fields and the introductory skills needed to pursue employment after graduation or continue on to college level learning.
The study of Medical Terminology introduces students to the language of medicine. Students will gain an understanding of basic elements, rules of building and analyzing medical words, and medical terms associated with the body as a whole. Utilizing a systems-approach, the student will define, interpret, and pronounce medical terms relating to structure and function, pathology, diagnosis, clinical procedures, oncology, and pharmacology. In addition to medical terms, common abbreviations applicable to each system will be interpreted.
The Licensed Nurse Assistant Certification class provides instruction in the roles and responsibilities of the Nursing Assistant. Body structure and function, infection prevention, nutrition, principles of growth and development, safety in healthcare, home health care, and care of the older person are some of the topics emphasized. Instruction and practice of basic patient care skills required for Nursing Assistants is provided. The student must successfully meet all objectives of the course; pass exams, laboratory skills performance and the clinical experience to be eligible for course completion. At the completion of this certificate, students are eligible to take the Vermont Board of Nursing LNA Competency Exam.
Successful students earning their LNA will be eligible for employment as soon as licensure is obtained. This class provides students a pathway to employment right after high school as well as a pathway to a college major in health careers. Many students actually choose to do both: employment right after graduation while attending college part-time.
Anatomy & Physiology
Necessary life functions and survival needs will be examined, followed by an orientation of the language of anatomy. Thorough analyses of intracellular function, tissue types, the integumentary system, skeletal tissue and the human skeleton, joints, muscle tissue and the muscular system, the fundamentals of nervous tissue and the nervous system.
This course is rigorous and geared toward students who are planning to pursue a post-secondary degree in a healthcare, medical field or biomedical engineering.
For more detailed information go to our Program of Study.
Clubs and Activities
HOSA
Future Health Professionals, formerly known as Health Occupations Students of America, is an international career and technical student organization endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education and the Health Science Technology Education Division of ACTE.
Industry Recognized Credentials
Basic Life Support/CPR
Bloodborne Pathogens
First Aid
LNA (Level 2)
OSHA 10
Your Instructor
Cheryl Duby
My name is Cheryl Duby, and I discovered my calling as an educator while completing prerequisite coursework at Springfield Technical Community College. I found myself tutoring peers—many of whom were English Language Learners—in challenging subjects like Microbiology and Anatomy & Physiology, which sparked a passion for breaking down complex science into accessible, actionable learning—a philosophy that drives my teaching to this day.
With 18 years of experience as a nurse, my clinical foundation began at Greenfield Community College, where I earned my Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), followed by practice in both Medical-Surgical and Ambulatory Care nursing. Driven by a desire to educate future healthcare professionals, I earned my Master’s Degree in Nursing Education from Walden University and spent eight years as an Assistant Professor in the Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) program at Vermont State University, as well as two years serving as a School Nurse.
Now as a Health Careers Instructor at Windham Regional Career Center, I combine my extensive clinical background and academic experience to empower every student—regardless of their starting point—to gain the knowledge, credentials, and confidence needed to excel in the healthcare field. Above all, I am deeply committed to preparing compassionate healthcare professionals who will serve, support, and strengthen the health of our local community.
Your Instructor
Michele Hood
