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HEALTHCARE EDUCATION HEALTHCARE EDUCATION HEALTHCARE EDUCATION

Cover Story: FORTIS College-Cutler Bay:

Personalized Hands-on Training for a Healthcare Career

Continued from page 1
Focusing on the Student staff at the outbreak of the Coronavirus in anticipation of several scenarios. Our and modifying the current program offer-
Experience pandemic. In early March and into mid- protocols currently include health ings to meet the demands of the here and
As an institution, its focus is on the March 2020, the faculty and staff aggres- screenings prior to entrance, facial cover- now, he notes.
student experience and engagement to sively transitioned to move all of its ing and social distancing protocols, “The infrastructure we’ve been build-
learn the skills of their chosen career courses to distance education with the increased sanitization, and other key ing over the past year also allows us the
field. Some of the programs use a blend goal to keep all of students safe while items. We know that we will continue flexibility we need to adapt to being a
of online learning and in-person hands- allowing them to stay on track to accom- these items, and add to them if needed, source of quality healthcare graduates,”
on training for various skills. plish their career goals. once local restrictions allow for students says Smith. “I am very optimistic of what
Moreover, unlike a more traditional “During the last four months, we have to be back on campus for learning activ- FORTIS College–Cutler Bay will be in 10
school that is more rigid, “We focus on invested in a single learning management ities.” years and I am extremely proud of being

creating a flexible schedule to accommo- platform, increased our technology capa- Looking Ahead able to provide local healthcare graduates
date our student’s busy lives,” adds bilities so faculty have an improved abil- now.”
Smith. ity to engage students remotely, and tran- Beyond the pandemic, the biggest Smith says that he likes to celebrate
The College started operating in its sitioned our support services to be both challenge facing FORTIS College–Cutler the good moments while focusing on
current space in 2008. Since then, it has personal yet remote,” he says. “We may Bay is making sure it is meeting the what is next. Over the past year, the
been growing to meet the needs of South be providing distance education at this needs of the community with programs College has added a new practical nurs-
Florida and specifically South Miami. Its moment, but we are not distant educa- that continue to deliver high-skilled ing program, increased its partnerships
Associates of Nursing program earned tors.” employees. with several local healthcare providers,
programmatic accreditation in 2018 by Each of the programs FORTIS offers “Staying on top of the needs of our and currently is navigating a pandemic.
the Accreditation Commission for has year-round enrollment entry points community is one of our key focuses and “Keeping a focus on providing in-
Education in Nursing (ACEN). After and as a result, its admissions process is continuing to discuss these needs with demand and quality healthcare gradu-
noticing a growing need and demand for now “virtual” and is completed on-line our partners is key in overcoming this ates, we will continue to focus on our
Licensed Practical Nurses in South with specific support from the challenge,” says Smith. “We are always key goals of growing our partnerships to
Florida, the College was granted Admissions and Financial Services sourcing new partners to empower our help be part of the solution for the short-
approval to offer a Practical Nursing – teams. community with educational programs age of nurses in our community and our
Diploma program starting in July 2020. “We continue to monitor state and that lead to strong careers.” state,” he says.
local protocols for bringing students In 10 years, Smith envisions the
Safety First back to campus, and no one has been College as being one of the primary For more information, visit
As with other academic institutions, permitted to return to our campus until sources of high-demand and quality www.fortis.edu.
Smith says that they were very conscious it is safe to do so,” says Smith. “The healthcare graduates for South Florida.
of the safety of the students, faculty and College has been planning since March To accomplish that, it is now building

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26 August 2020 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News