GRANTS & AWARDS

New Grants Address Student and Community Needs

Recently, Harcum received several grants to support Harcum students pursuing associate’s degrees in numerous professions, and in turn, impacting the communities they will serve:

A gift from THE W.W. SMITH CHARITABLE TRUST will expand the number of Harcum’s “Smith Scholars,” students with academic promise from the five-county Philadelphia region and City of Camden. Since 2017, the Trust has helped 20 Harcum students to pursue their degrees.

For the second consecutive year, THE HUSTON FOUNDATION awarded scholarship funding for Chester County students with a preference for Coatesville Partnership Site students.

New support from the Early Childhood Education (ECE) Professional Development Organization at PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGEMENT CORPORATION will help impact the degree completion rate while supporting ECE majors. Led by Harcum’s ECE program, the project builds on momentum gained from prior assistance. The new grant provides for mentors, summer course scholarships, a new course on infection control, a speakers series, and memberships in the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), which accredits Harcum’s program.

Youth courts help keep individuals who have committed relatively minor offenses out of the court system. With funding from THE FOUNDATION FOR DELAWARE COUNTY, Director of Youth Courts Gregg Volz, will guide a project to change the school to prison pipeline. With a focus on Delaware County, the goals are to deliver training to schools, design a juvenile justice youth court, and begin to create a Youth Court Resource Center. Kathleen Devaney is a first-year OTA major and a “Smith Scholar,” who said she chose Harcum because of its competitive OTA program. The scholarship will help her afford books, gas for the commute, and she’ll not have to worry as much about tuition. Early Childhood Education Program Director Joanne Ricevuto and Assistant Program Director Christine Carlson teach and mentor all the ECE students at Bryn Mawr Campus and the Partnership Sites.

Harcum@Coatesville observed an intimate celebration for their 2021 graduates on May 4 at Graystone Manor.

health benefits

Ebonynessa Prince ’20, Nursing Elainie Demeter ’22, OTA

Lauren Fura ’16, Dental Hygiene Breone Alcox-McIntosh ’17, Vet. Nursing

Our Legacy in Health Science

Science has transformed our world. Because of advances in health science, human beings live nearly twice as long as our ancestors did some 100 years ago when life expectancy in the United States barely notched 50 years for men and women.

Popular news outlets have reported that recent advancements in medical technology may routinely propel the human lifespan past 100 years.

While variables such as living-wage jobs, a secure family life, a well balanced diet, affordable housing, and safe neighborhoods can and do improve one’s quality of life, none of those things can replace one’s physical and mental health.

“It is health that is the real wealth, and not pieces of gold and silver,” Mahatma Gandhi famously said.

Good health benefits us all. Clearly, Harcum has invested in the critical connection between science and health, preparing thousands of professionals to heal, restore, and preserve good health in humans and animals.

Currently, Harcum offers 14 majors in the health sciences (what colleges and universities refer to as the Allied Health fields) and a number of related certificate programs representing a broad range of occupations and specializations.

Some programs such as Dental Hygiene and Veterinary Nursing have been offered for decades at the Bryn Mawr Campus. Regardless of the program, with each graduating class, Harcum infuses the health care industry in the Philadelphia region and beyond with a diverse range of accomplished, industry-licensed, and compassionate personnel. aBenefits to Consumers While accessibility is critical, quality care is likewise invaluable to health care consumers. The Allied Health programs have extremely high licensing exam pass rates, each one nearing or surpassing 90% year in and year out.

Allied Health Program Pass Rates

100%

Dental Assisting with EFDA

Dental Hygiene

Medical Laboratory Technology

Nursing

Occupational Therapy Assisting

Phlebotomy

Physical Therapist Assistant (Day)

Physical Therapist Assistant (Evening)

Radiologic Technology

Veterinary Nursing

100%

87%

100%

91%

89%

100%

100%

80%

96%

*Data from most-recent year available

Why are the health science programs so successful? Harcum’s President Jon Jay DeTemple credits the faculty first and foremost. “They are very well-qualified, they want to do good and serve, and they are motivated to turn out the best practitioners in their fields.”

Dr. Philip Giarraputo, supervising dentist at the Dental Clinic, received the 2021 Philip Klein Faculty Award for excellence in teaching. His nominator Jillian Lydon, a 2015 graduate of the Dental Hygiene program and present-day colleague, nominated Giarraputo because he demonstrates his dedication and commitment to Harcum College daily through his teaching and superior patient care.

The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences

The Dental Expo sells out annually because of the continuing education credits it offers, so graduates from the dental programs can retain their licensures.

selected Jim Foster, OTA Program Director, for their Force for Good award recipient for creating an innovative telehealth fieldwork program to provide community consumers with an alternative when their day programs were shut down. He was also invited to speak at their 2020 Commencement.

Kathy Koar, Veterinary Nursing Program Director, was named Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association’s (PVMA) Certified Veterinary Technician of the Year last fall. The Executive Director of the PVMA Jennifer A. Keeler said, “I can think of no one more deserving of this award in 2020.”

These are but three individual accolades our allied health sciences faculty earned in the 2020–21 academic year, all of which underscore that a quality faculty is integral to academic success.

aBenefits to Employers There is an expectation in the Greater Philadelphia region that colleges should be preparing competent, caring, licensed health care professionals with credentials from accredited programs. Harcum’s outcomes relative to pass- and employment rates objectively support that the College is meeting that expectation. Consumer testimonials and word of mouth point to a subjective level of success.

Recently, a woman who needed blood drawn went out of her way to let the College know about a Harcum Phlebotomy student who helped her at Main Line Health in Newtown Square. Diane Riscavage said the student’s

Today’s Veterinary Nursing program began in 1973 as "Animal Technology." In 1982, the name was changed to "Animal Health Technician." In 1990, the name was changed to "Veterinary Technology" with a name change in 2019 to "Veterinary Nursing" as part of a national initiative. The credential used by all licensed program grads like Lori Mansell ’13 is still Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT).

Mike Fratangelo, who joined Harcum in 2021 as the Program Director for the new Behavioral Health Science major, would love to see the program flourish and believes the accessibility of telehealth services can meet a critical need for care.

demeanor was calming and reassuring, adding, “She took such care to not cause any more pain than necessary. Other than the needle prick, not a mark left on me! She said she has one more month before finishing the program at Harcum. As someone who has never been a fan of getting blood taken, I felt at ease.”

Healthgrades, a Denver-based health care data company, released a list of the top 100 U.S. cities “getting health care right,” and, in 2019, Philadelphia cracked the top 10 in terms of access, quality of care, and patient satisfaction. Offering superior access demands having enough personnel.

In August of 2021, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported on a tight labor market for nurses. The health-care research firm Advisory Board also identified nursing recruitment as a “major pain point” in the last few months, which is one reason why Harcum is introducing an Evening Nursing program. Admissions began outreach to prospects in July, and pending approval from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), the College will start its first cohort in January of 2022.

“Harcum is helping to address the health care needs in our communities, especially where there are shortages. There are not enough professionals in the OTA and PTA areas either,” DeTemple said. Beginning this fall, Harcum will offer a new degree in Behavioral Health Science (BHS), which equips students of any age to care for individuals with autism, traumatic brain injury, mental health issues, and/or substance abuse problems. Newly appointed program director Mike Fratangelo said the potential consumers to be served by those holding a BHS is large and growing. “We will need more people who are trained in the helping professions as behavioral health specialists.” He is particularly excited about offering the program to Partnership Site students who can earn a Harcum degree right in their communities. “We’re providing an education to learners who really want to be there but never had an opportunity.” Harcum constantly studies needs within the health care industry, developing programs where deficits become apparent. “We step up,” DeTemple said. “We operate quickly.” One of those programmatic pivots happened in Spring Semester of 2020, when the College

The Medical Laboratory

Technician Program directed by Donna

Broderick (right), and pictured with student Xelanys Morales, received a 10-year accreditation from NAACLS, the highest award.

began offering a certificate program in Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), which has the potential to be a feeder program for the degree in Behavioral Health Science. As of August 21, all RBT summer students were registered for the national exam, an exciting development since RBTs offer therapeutic interventions that can make a real difference, especially in the lives of autistic children and those with alcohol or drug dependency.

In addition to the RBT, Harcum introduced new specialty certifications in MRI and CT-Scan for Radiologic Technology graduates.

“We constantly look at health care needs and where our programs can meet those needs,” DeTemple said, citing new course work for Expanded Function Dental Assisting students to help them pass a certification exam and changing the curriculum in Dental Hygiene to allow hygienists to give shots.

aBenefits to Graduates “Eds and Meds” is the buzzword that’s come to define Philadelphia because of the universities and hospitals driving the region’s economy.

The first public hospital in the United States was co-founded by Benjamin Franklin in Philadelphia in 1751. The Philadelphia health care market is just as emblematic today—one reason why Harcum allied health graduates are in demand.

One hundred percent of Radiologic Technology graduates were employed in the field within a year of graduation.

According to 2020 data supplied by the Bureau of Labor & Industry and CAPTE, the median annual salary for PTAs is $59,440.

There is something noble about those who desire to help people when they most

need help.

Nursing laboratory classes always include simulated patient care exercises.

Fully 94 percent of 2020 Nursing graduates had full-time jobs within 8–12 months of obtaining their licensure. The Histotechnician and MLT programs both have a three-year job placement rate of 100 percent.

aGrowing demand Even more demand is expected to fill positions in the health sciences because of the aging of 71.6 million Baby Boomers (Americans ages 55 to 73).

In addition to the current nursing shortage, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the demand for PTAs is expected to mushroom by 40% through 2024. They also predicted the need for OTAs will grow 31% through 2028. Employment opportunities for veterinary nurses and technicians is projected to grow 16 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations.

aCompetitive pay & less college expense Nursing salaries in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware are some of the highest in the country according to May 2019 National Occupational Employment and Wages Estimates. The earning power of nurses working in Philadelphia trails only New York and D.C. Dental hygienists, radiologic technologists, OTAs, and PTAs all command attractive starting salaries without incurring the expense or debt of a four-year degree.

Also, any graduate whose associate’s degree yields fulltime employment is entering the workforce years sooner than those seeking four-year degrees. Philip Giarraputo, D.D.S., has been the supervising dentist at Harcum for 13 years and helps treat school age children during Sealant Day, an annual aCareer flexibility Harcum’s allied health community service outreach program. degrees can serve the front lines at a medical facility working directly with patients or prepare students for a vital role such as Medical Laboratory Technologist or Histotechnician whose work supports those on the front lines but doesn’t require patient care. Numerous programs prepare graduates to work in a range of settings. An A.S. in Veterinary Nursing is one of the most flexible degrees and typical employment settings for graduates include clinics, research facilities, zoos/wildlife sanctuaries, husbandry and raising livestock, teaching, and animal shelters. aInherently rewarding There is something noble about those who desire to help people when they most need help. Elainie Demeter is a second-year student in the Occupational Therapist Assistant program, who came to Harcum with an undergraduate degree in education studies.

She thinks Harcum has done a great job developing their OTA program and loves the fact that she can work with any age range.

She believes that OTA is the ideal field to make a real difference in people’s lives because she can treat the entire person, not just the diagnosis.

“I want to inspire my patients to not give up and encourage them to be the best versions of themselves,” she said.

THE Art & Design

PROGRAMS

THE SYNERGY OF COLLABORATION

Collaboration is often viewed as an ideal within the halls of academia. In practice, it can be a lot harder to pull off. At Harcum, several faculty members and the programs they lead saw an opportunity to grow together when new creative majors, Graphic Design and Photography, joined the Fashion and Interior Design programs in 2018.

What evolved was a model of collaboration and a hallmark of a vital academic community—all to enrich the student experience at Harcum.

FASHION & PHOTO PROGRAMS

During the 2020–21 academic year, the Photography and Fashion Programs combined to offer an intensive, collaborative project on site.

Photography Program Director Drew Simcox and Fashion Adjunct Faculty Member Angela Edmunds organized the lesson together to allow Fashion students to learn more about what fashion photography demands while Photography students experienced the needs and expectations of Fashion students, who also doubled as models.

The shoot began with makeup and fittings in the morning. Once they were ready to shoot, the student photographers and models marshalled every vantage point the center offered to artful conclusions. When they wrapped up around four hours later, their work successfully showcased all the Center’s most photogenic features (and students).

One major takeaway for the participants from the day? Each program area relies on the strength of the skill set of the other—out in the real world, too. Designers benefit from insider knowhow to showcase their collections via photographs to stunning effect, and photographers need to learn the fashion industry’s conventions and expectations for shooting haute couture.

THE ART & DESIGN EXPERIENCE

Prospective students had two in-depth opportunities to experience the programs and quality of instruction of the Art & Design majors during the Art & Design Experience. The program directors worked with the Admissions and Communications & Marketing departments to plan and promote the first event onsite in the fall of 2019. Those efforts attracted 27 high school age students who engaged in 53 workshops in two majors of their choosing to complete a range of take-home projects: mood boards in Interior Design, greeting cards in Graphic Design, marbled scarves in Fashion, commercial photography, and Sumi ink paintings.

While the pandemic lockdown put the spring 2020 Art & Design Experience on hold, a virtual event was offered the following year. All registrants received a carefully curated kit with all the necessary supplies to complete one project. Each Program Director led participants through a hands-on workshop via Zoom on April 8, 2021, and 18 individuals took part.

THE ZOMBIE TAKEOVER

One of most striking collaborations occurred in October of 2019 and was dubbed “The Zombie Takeover.” All the programs helped pull off a very scary photo shoot. Fashion provided the costumes. Graphic designers created some horrifying makeup looks. Interior Design students did the set dressing, and photography students got invaluable shooting experience with lights, lenses, and eerie special effects in the Center’s green room.

After a year of remote learning, almost exclusively, all the art & design programs anticipate developing more collaborative projects to edify and energize students, if and when the threats posed by intense personal interaction from COVID-19 fade away.