An increasing need for healthcare services, coupled with the national shortage of qualified workers, continues to fuel a huge demand for healthcare employees. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects that the healthcare industry will add more than three million jobs in the coming years, with eight of the 20 fastest growing occupations in the healthcare industry.

This need for qualified healthcare employees spans a wide range of fields including patient care, hospital and medical office administration, and insurance billing and coding.

One fast-growing area of employment is back-office support for medical offices and hospitals, such as Medical Insurance Billing and Coding. Working through the complicated maze of insurance codes and claims is a must in the modern medical profession, but offices often lack trained staff members to take on these crucial administrative duties. This means that graduates of medical billing and coding programs are in high demand.

Everest University, formerly Florida Metropolitan University (FMU) as of Nov. 5, reports that its healthcare programs continue to expand and adapt to meet rising student demand and industry changes.

“The requirements of the insurance industry are constantly changing and evolving,” said Lynda Auster, Medical Insurance Billing and Coding instructor at Everest University’s Pompano Beach campus. “In our Medical Insurance Billing and Coding program, we train students on the latest software and coding techniques to ensure that our graduates are ready to enter the workforce and able to immediately contribute to a medical office team.”

Patient care is also a rapidly growing job market as the number of aging Baby Boomers needing long-term and live-in medical care increases. Skilled patient care technicians are needed in South Florida and across the country. Positions for graduates of patient care programs are readily available in hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes and assisted-living facilities.

Healthcare administration offers excellent career prospects as well, considering many administrators are expected to retire in the coming years. “Changes in the healthcare industry have created a need for education that encompasses everything from legal and legislative reform to risk and financial management. We strive to equip aspiring administrators with up-to-date training that will allow them to meet the evolving demands of healthcare facilities and companies,” says Anie Bonilla, Ph.D., Academic Dean at Everest University’s Pompano Beach campus.

It is clear that the need for qualified healthcare employees has had an impact on educational institutions. Increasingly, the trend is to provide practical skills and workplace practicums and externships that offer real-world experience. Schools and universities offering healthcare training programs have evolved to meet changing student needs and industry demand.

The Accrediting Council of Independent Colleges and Schools, which accredits Everest University in Florida, requires that 70 percent of graduates be employed in their fields of study. “One of our main goals is to help our graduates find employment upon successful completion of their program requirements,” Auster added.

Everest University officials agree that, no matter what the healthcare position, there’s an increasing need for skilled workers. “All economic indicators show that the needs in healthcare training will not wane any time soon,” Auster said. “In fact, as the population continues to age, we can expect an even higher demand.”



The Barry University Physician Assistant Program (BUPAP) recently celebrated the first graduation of a class seated in both its Miami Shores and St. Petersburg locations. Sixty-six graduates from the BUPAP class of 2007, including 44 students from the Barry University campus in Miami Shores and 22 from the Barry extension in St. Petersburg, recited the Oath of Hippocrates and joined the more than 75,000 physician assistants eligible to practice medicine in the United States.

The BUPAP, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2007, has grown tremendously since its inception in 1997.While the first class had 28 students, the program now has 88 students and has graduated more than 300 physician assistants. In 2005, through the use of interactive videoconferencing, Barry began offering its PA program at the University Partnership Center at St. Petersburg College EpiCenter. Consequently, Barry’s Dec. 15 commencement ceremony was first time that PA classes seated on both the Miami Shores and St. Petersburg campuses graduated.



Through online education and in-person seminars, all levels of professionals in marketing, planning, communications, and public relations have educational opportunities throughout the year. With its educational branch, SHSMD U, the Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development (SHSMD) of the American Hospital Association hosts two programs in Chicago each spring.

SHSMD U – Essentials is developed to guide attendees through the expertise they need to fulfill their roles – with immediate take-aways and actions. Core strategies and tactics utilized in the field of healthcare are delved into and attendees receive personal attention and interaction with the speakers, due to the limited attendance size.

The next level of professional development is the SHSMD U – Raising the Bar series for mid-level professionals. These programs delve deeper into the strategic understanding of current and future trends, tactics, and tools. A SHSMD U – Raising the Bar program is the perfect seminar to attend if you aspire to be part of the senior executive team.

SHSMD U Essentials and SHSMD U – Raising the Bar are programs created for each disciple, marketing, planning, and PR/communications, but all are held in Chicago. By attending these in-person programs, or participating in one of the many online education opportunities, you will gain the knowledge of SHSMD’s expert faculty to help you develop the skills needed for your current position, and the next one you want.

Other educational programs for healthcare professionals are available throughout the year.



When pediatric nurse Alina Atienza-Lago is not helping to save lives, she’s spending time with her eight-year-old son who has autism, or volunteering for the Special Olympics, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), and Autism Speaks, or lecturing at schools and churches on drunk driving and organ donation.

Even with all that on her plate, Atienza-Lago found time to pursue another goal. This July, she will be among the first 40 students to earn a Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) from Miami Dade College (MDC).

The BSN program, which started in spring 2008, has garnered national praise and attracted students from all over the world. MDC also offers bachelor’s degrees in education and public safety.

“We are delighted to congratulate our first pioneering class of BSN graduates,” said Medical Center Campus President Dr. Anita Kaplan. “These graduates reflect one more way that MDC is responding to the need for more baccalaureate-prepared nurses in the community we serve. Many of these graduate nurses will be able to advance to a wider variety of positions both as clinicians and managers in their chosen field.”

It was a brush with tragedy that prompted Atienza-Lago to pursue a career in nursing when at age 17 her younger sister died following an accident involving a drunk driver. “[My sister] was in the pediatric ICU and when I saw what those nurses did for her, I knew right then and there that was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life,” Atienza-Lago recalls.

In 1990, she enrolled at the Mercy Hospital School of Practical Nursing. After 15 years working as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Atienza-Lago earned an Associate in Science and in Arts at MDC. Now, she’s living her dream working as a pediatric nurse at Baptist Children’s Hospital.

Most recently, Atienza-Lago was named 2008 Parent of the Year at her son’s school, Carrie Brazer School for Autism and also received an award for Clinical Excellence in Pediatric Nursing from MDC and Miami Children’s Hospital.



Dr. Albert V. Armstrong, Jr., interim assistant academic dean and assistant professor of radiology for the Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine, recently completed a training manual for podiatric x-ray assistants titled, Radiation Safety and Training Manual. The guidebook was published by the Florida Podiatric Medical Association.

The book is based on Dr. Armstrong’s clinical experience and education in radiology his time as a radiology scientist in the U.S. Air Force while stationed throughout Southeast Asia and the Philippines as chief technologist.

(l-r) Barry University podiatric medicine student, Hany M. Jeffrey, class of 2011 and Dr. Albert V. Armstrong, Jr., interim assistant academic dean and assistant professor of radiology for the Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine.

The guidebook covers the role of the podiatric x-ray machine operator, radiobiology and radiation safety. It also explains radiographic equipment, the physics of radiography and x-ray production, and principles of exposure and image quality. The guidebook also gives details on x-ray darkroom and film processing, radiography of the lower extremity, safety and infection control, and emergency situations.

The manual was produced with the assistance of Rena Kizilisik, MA, residency coordinator for the Barry School of Podiatric Medicine who provided editing and manuscript preparation and Hany M. Jeffrey, class of 2011 from the Barry School of Podiatric Medicine who provided illustrations.