Key Highlights:
- Students from multiple OTECH health programs applied their classroom skills in a real clinic setting, gaining hands-on experience by assisting patient intake, screenings, and working alongside licensed providers.
- In partnership with Seager Memorial Clinic, the event provided free health screenings—including, vaccinations, eye exams, women’s health checks, lab tests and more to 146 community members.
OGDEN, UT – Students in OTECH’s Dental Assisting, Medical Coding and Billing, Nursing Assistant, Pharmacy Technician, Phlebotomy, and Practical Nursing programs took their skills out of the classroom and into the real world by participating in Seager Memorial Clinic’s Free Health Screening Day.
The event was held on Sept. 27 and provided free screenings to 146 patients. Services provided included vaccinations, eye exams, BMI and blood pressure tests, women’s health screenings, lab tests, and skin checks.
Kelsee Grow, program coordinator for OTECH’s Medical Assistant and Phlebotomy programs explained the importance of these learning opportunities for students.
“We get to throw [students] in an environment where they’re working with real patients,” Grow said. “The students get to use the skills they’re learning in class in that real world setting. You’re providing free services to someone who really needs it, and students get to see things they don’t get to see in the classroom. A patient will come in with a condition that you can’t replicate in the lab.”
The Sept. 27 event marks three years partnering with Seager Memorial Clinic to host the event. Attendees received medical attention at no-cost in a welcoming environment and accessed community resources that can further support their health and wellbeing.
The participation of OTECH’s students is critical to overall success of the event, as students assist with patient intake, facilitate screenings and exams, and work alongside licensed providers. This hands-on experience bridges the gap between classroom learning and real-world experience, and provides a meaningful opportunity for students to serve in the community—an experience that aligns with OTECH’s mission to build a prosperous community and prepare students for the workforce.
Valeria Aparicio, a student in OTECH’s Dental Assisting program, served as a Spanish translator during the event.
“I felt proud to serve as a Spanish translator during the health screening event,” Aparicio said. “Helping patients understand their screenings and recommended treatments was incredibly rewarding. I realized how important clear communication is between providers and patients, and it felt good to be an essential part of the process. This experience taught me how to better listen to patients and communicate more effectively to meet their needs.”
At OTECH, experience is everything. Students learn through hands-on experiences just like this to be prepared for work in the real-world. To learn more about OTECH’s hands-on programs, visit otech.edu.