By Xavier Martinez
CCC Journalism Program
CAMDEN – The Joint Health Sciences Center, a collaboration of Camden County College, Rowan University and Rutgers University in Camden that opened in 2019, plans to add to its programs next year.
The $70-million, four-story building at the corner of Martin Luther King Boulevard and Broadway is designed to provide space where faculty members and students from the three educational institutions can collaborate on research. Students have access to educators and peers from other institutions, giving more opportunities for mentorship and research.
A 30,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art Healthcare Simulation Center is inside the facility. This center provides students with realistic patient simulations and complex training exercises to prepare them for careers in various medical fields, Joint Board CEO Dana Redd said at the ribbon cutting for the building. “By leveraging the power of these institutions, the center is poised to become the research and innovation hub of South Jersey. This campus will be the beating heart of Camden’s eds and meds corridor, injecting opportunity, growth and innovation throughout the entire region.”
As of now, the facility is offering different programs and studies in the health fields, such as practical nursing, certified nurse aide, multi-skills technician and Alzheimer’s journey coordinator programs. A certified medical assistant training program is in the planning stages for the spring 2022 semester. In that program, students will be assigned to a clinical externship for five weeks. During this rotation, the students will use the skills and information learned in the classroom to work in clinical settings with patients. Once students have passed and completed this program, they can seek jobs as medical assistants in doctor’s offices or hospital-based practices.
The facility’s Alzheimer’s journey coordinator program provides students with the education and clinical skills to aid caregivers in recognizing and understanding the symptoms. treatment and guidance of patients with Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of dementia. This certificate curriculum also assists students who are working for agencies that provide services to individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of dementia. The Alzheimer’s journey coordinator program has 17 Camden County College students.
The coordinator of this program, Professor Fatemah Sedighi, said the ALZ.CA program has instructors with psychology and counseling backgrounds. She complimented the Joint Health Sciences Center. “Joint Health Science is one of the best facilities for students to focus and learn. It is peaceful and an excellent learning environment,” she said.
A second building for the center is under construction across the street.