FCPS Adult Eduation Hires Health, Medical Careers Specialist: Report

FCPS Adult Eduation Hires Health, Medical Careers Specialist: Report New career specialist hill help ensure students obtain work readiness skills, licenses, and certificates specific to their career field.

Press release from Fairfax County Public Schools ACE:

Fairfax, VA – October 31, 2024 – Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Adult and Community Education (ACE) , the leading provider of flexible and affordable training for workforce development, names Jerry Hinn, as the new Health and Medical Careers Specialist to lead the Health and Medical program.

As FCPS ACE's Health and Medical Careers Specialist, Hinn is responsible for a variety of professional duties surrounding the development, implementation, and evaluation of Health and Medical programs designed to ensure students obtain work readiness skills, licenses, and certificates specific to their career field. Additionally, Hinn also plays a critical role in recruiting and selecting instructors; as well as ensuring that the Health and Medical program consistently meets revenue targets.

Hinn has already made a major contribution to FCPS ACE's Health and Medical program with the recent conclusion and success of the inaugural Healthcare 101 course. Similar to FCPS ACE's Apprenticeship 101 course, Healthcare 101 is designed to be an introduction to careers in health and medical, and what is needed to be successful in those careers. The course is intended to be exploratory, where students gain fundamentals, while learning about the space to determine whether this is a career path they want to pursue. In this course, students learn common medical terminology, current health and medical market trends and occupational outlooks, and the education requirements and national credentials needed to move forward in these careers. Students are also exposed to various types of externships and could become CPR certified.

Students who took the inaugural Healthcare 101 course commented:

"It was awesome being taught by Mr. Hinn! The medical terms I learned in Healthcare 101 have really come in handy with the Health Sciences class I am taking this year," Jolie N. a high school student at FCPS shared.

Alexis H., a current student working toward her Nursing Assistant certification, shared "The terminology and fundamental information I learned in the Healthcare 101 class has been helpful when doing my Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) work. I understand what the terms mean without them having to be explained to me. At the end of the school year, I plan to take the CNA exam, and then while I work as a CNA, I plan to study to become either an Obstetrician or Gynecologist or maybe even an OB-GYN."

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare is one of the fastest growing industries. It is predicted that 3.3 million healthcare jobs will have been added by 2030. In Virginia alone by 2026, it is projected that there will be more than 12,000 nursing and medical assistant roles to fill

"There is tremendous opportunity for students and those thinking about developing a career in health and medical, both locally here in Fairfax County, Northern Virginia, and beyond," Jerry Hinn, FCPS ACE Health and Medical Careers Specialist shares, "We want to empower our students and the community with health and medical course programs that are going to set them up with the skills they need in order to perform at a competitive level. I am highly motivated to build from the highly successful Health and Medical program already established and identify ways we can expand and enhance the program to best fit today's needs as well as future needs of the industry, employers, and our students."

Hinn further comments on key areas he is currently exploring for enhancement considerations within the FCPS ACE's Health and Medical Program, including:

1. Healthcare 101: Stemming from the success of the inaugural course this summer, Hinn has proposed that this course be extended and positioned as a pre-requisite course for students interested in the Health and Medical program. This would empower students to be more prepared for the initial course in this space they are taking since they will have already been exposed to the fundamentals and medical terminology the Healthcare 101 class delivers.
2. Bilingual Health and Medical Courses: To address the needs for bilingual healthcare workers and support patients from diverse communities, Health and Medical is developing bilingual tracks in career education. Students who are gaining fluency will be able to enroll in Spanish language medical classes, which will allow them to enter the workforce sooner and fulfil the needs for interpretation and enable direct communication with patients. At the same time, native English speakers hoping to learn fluency in another language, will be blended in as part of their learning pathway, providing meaningful language practice for all sets of learners.
3. Career Guidance and Education: Hinn is considering ways the Health and Medical program can provide more career guidance as students take courses and plan out their path. Part of that is helping students realize their skills, strengths, and the value of the training they are receiving to find the best career path for them and further develop those skills through real-world resume building opportunities.

"We could not be more enthusiastic about Jerry Hinn taking on the Health and Medical Careers Specialist role," commented Paul D. Steiner, FCPS ACE Adult and Community Education Administrator. "Students and the FCPS ACE team have raved about his contributions and innovations to-date, and we look forward to what we will be able to accomplish for our students and the community with Jerry at the helm of the Health and Medical program."

Hinn comes to FCPS ACE with tremendous experience. A highly knowledgeable and accomplished Chief Operating Officer, Hinn has overseen and operated three family-owned businesses. Along with his strategic operational, budgeting and forecasting, vendor relations, and employee on-boarding capabilities, Hinn is regarded for leading organizations with a tenacity and purpose that fosters growth and exceeds goals. Additionally, Hinn has served as a Department Chair for four different campuses with Hondros College of Nursing. Hinn also currently serves as an Adjunct Professor at Northern Virginia Community College and Blue Ridge Community College, teaching in subject areas such as Anatomy and Physiology as well as Biology. Hinn has pursued a Doctorate in Science Teacher Education from Vanderbilt University, pursued a Doctorate in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Cincinnati, and a Masters in Zoology and Animal Biology from North Carolina State University. Hinn began his post-secondary education at Virginia Tech, where he earned a bachelor's in biology. About FCPS ACE The Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Adult and Community Education program (ACE) is the leading provider of flexible, affordable, outcome-oriented classes to promote learning at any stage in life. We offer more than 3,000 courses in a wide range of subjects that empower students of all ages and backgrounds to explore options for after high school graduation, gain valuable technical training, advance their careers with relevant skills, or enhance their lives with a range of personal interest classes. Our students and their success are what drive FCPS ACE. With more than 60 years of history and a deep connection to the local community, FCPS ACE is for you. For more information, visit www.aceclasses.fcps.edu and follow us on Facebook , Instagram and X .