Miami Carol City Senior High School recently marked a milestone for its Medical Assisting Program, now in its third year, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a brand-new lab and classroom facility. The upgraded space gives students hands-on training in a state-of-the-art environment while still in high school.
The program, a partnership with Miami Lakes Educational Center & Technical College, allows students to earn industry certifications and gain practical experience in medical assisting. The new lab is designed like a real doctor’s office, complete with medical beds, mannequins for practice, equipment to monitor vitals, and a computer lab with 25 laptops for coursework.
“This program opens a pathway for healthcare careers, which are hard to replace with AI,” Principal Bridget L. McKinney said in a statement from Miami-Dade County Public Schools. “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.”
Photo credit: dadeschools.net
Currently, 75 students are enrolled in the program. From 10th grade through senior year, they take specialized courses each semester covering skills like taking vital signs, performing EKGs, drawing blood, administering injections, and assisting physicians with procedures. By the end of the school year, students can take a state exam to earn certification and either enter the workforce or continue toward further medical studies.
“It’s such a life-changing opportunity,” 11th grader Jada Lewis said in a statement from Miami-Dade County Public Schools. “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.”
School Board Member Dr. Steve Gallon III praised the facility, highlighting how it enhances career and technical education opportunities for students in District 1. “This program is a tremendous opportunity to build upon the success and great things happening at Miami Carol City Senior High School,” Gallon said in a press release, noting the school’s recent “A” rating.
Photo credit: Dr. Gallon/dadeschools
M-DCPS officials say the upgraded lab underscores the district’s focus on workforce readiness. “Students will be studying in a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility,” Rene Mantilla, Assistant Superintendent for Postsecondary Career and Technical Education, said in a statement from Miami-Dade County Public Schools. “They’ll get certifications in phlebotomy, EKG, medical assisting, and even the core classes for nursing. It’s very comprehensive.”
Superintendent Dr. Jose L. Dotres also shared in a statement from Miami-Dade County Public Schools that programs like this provide students with the tools to succeed in high-demand fields: “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.”
With its new lab and classroom, Miami Carol City Senior High is taking the program to the next level, giving students hands-on opportunities to prepare for careers in healthcare—and strengthening the school’s role as a hub for career and technical education in the district.
This is a Hy-Lo News Staff Report.
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