Angel Soderholtz discovers medical laboratory technology at VC in AHEC healthcare careers exploration days.

Recent Austwell-Tivoli High School graduate Angel Soderholtz, 17, now knows she wants to start her career by enrolling at Victoria College next fall and eventually applying to the Medical Laboratory Technology Program.

Soderholtz, along with 10 soon-to-be seniors and recent graduates from Austwell-Tivoli, Refugio and Victoria East, spent a week exploring healthcare careers at local hospitals, VC and the University of Houston-Victoria. Students who participated in the Encouraging the College-bound into Healthcare Occupations Program over the past year were invited to attend.

“As a reward for successful completion of the ECHO Program, each year we invite students to attend this week-long exploration of their local resources in higher education and employment options,” said Jody Sanders, senior program director for Texas AHEC East-Victoria Region.

Sponsored by the Texas Area Health Education Center East-Victoria Region, this annual Healthcare Careers Program introduces students to a variety of career choices within the healthcare industry. The ECHO Program is grant funded through the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, providing support for students who are interested in pursuing a career in healthcare.

In conjunction with participating high school counselors and school Health Occupation Student Associations (HOSAs), the ECHO Program requires students to complete career-related meetings, projects and other hands-on activities throughout the school year.

After this final week of the ECHO Program, each student has the opportunity to apply for one of five $1,500 scholarships.

Throughout their week of exploration, students were given the opportunity to speak directly with healthcare professionals, instructors and current students to learn about healthcare education and careers in a variety of settings.

Instructors, along with current VC students, were on hand to involve students in hands-on activities and demonstrations throughout VC’s Division of Allied Health.

It was during the medical laboratory activities that Soderholtz discovered her interest in analyzing and testing samples.

“I really enjoyed the lab activity for MLT, testing for blood antigens and finding blood types like you would at a blood bank,” said Soderholtz. “I also want to learn phlebotomy.”

Fellow Austwell-Tivoli graduate Joseph Longoria, 19, plans to complete his core classes at VC and then transfer to the University of Texas at Austin to become a pharmacist. He credits Sanders for encouraging him with her ongoing support.

“She helped me a lot after I got discouraged when people said I wouldn’t be able to [go to college],” said Longoria. “I emailed her and she told me I could do it. She’s always been there for me.”

posted on Thursday, June 21, 2012 by Katy Long

Joseph Longoria checks out the equipment in VC's Respiratory Care Program lab with the help of current VC students.