Middlesex Community College: Students Gain Immediate Entrance Into Workforce Thanks To MCC

Press release from the Middlesex Community College:

Caitlin Buckley

1/19/2022

For students Grace McLaughlin and Laurette Bruny, Middlesex Community College has provided a stepping stone to their future career paths. Both enrolled in MCC’s Pharmacy Technician program, offered by the college’s Community Education and Training (CET) division.

While McLaughlin was looking for a part-time job in addition to attending the University of Massachusetts Lowell (UML), Bruny was seeking an opportunity to get back into healthcare after moving to the United States from Haiti. The Pharmacy Technician program at Middlesex was an affordable and flexible way for the students to explore the field and gain immediate entrance into the workforce.

“After learning about the direct support pharmacy technicians provide to pharmacists and the variety of environments in which they can work, I wanted to gain some experience to see if it was a path I wanted to further pursue,” McLaughlin said. “I chose MCC because of the convenience both financially and for the location.”

Unable to take the course at UML where she is working toward a bachelor’s-to-master’s in Chemistry, McLaughlin believed Middlesex was a positive investment for the future – especially “given the certification and skills I’d acquire by the end.”

Bruny ¬entered the program with a medical degree from the Dominican Republic. Also excited about the accessibility of the Pharmacy Technician program, she believed that Middlesex would be the best option to “maximize my post-university experience” in the U.S., allowing her to get back into the industry and hone her skills.

“I enjoyed everything about the class,” Bruny said. “It was very helpful and educational. MCC gave me the opportunity to take the course online and I was able to finish the program shortly.”

In MCC’s Pharmacy Technician program, students are provided an opportunity to explore a career in healthcare, gain valuable skills to help them be successful in the position, and prepare to take the certification exam.

“The instructors were knowledgeable in their fields and because of that, were able to provide advice and instruction beyond the textbook that would help students to prepare for the ‘real world,’” McLaughlin said. “I was well-prepared for my certification exams at the end of both classes.”

When considering her options, Bruny wanted a career that allowed her to communicate with people and answer their questions. Thanks to the program’s externship requirement, she not only had the opportunity to practice her skills, but interact with customers.

“Throughout this period, I have learned a lot and I believe I have all the skills needed to perform my duty effectively,” Bruny said. “I was able to communicate with customers and practice multiple tasks, preparing and filling prescriptions.

In particular, McLaughlin enjoyed her prescription course. Being able to practice questions and go over problems in class and then seeing real-life instances at her externship helped her to better understand the material. From the theories she learned in class to the practice she had at her externship site, she was set up for success to take her certification exam and enter the field.

“While I was studying for the certification exam, I could ask the pharmacists or technicians questions I had come across,” she said. “It was also valuable to hear about their academic and professional experiences in the pharmacy field which helped me to consider my own future decisions.”

Calling her experience at Middlesex “very good and beneficial,” Bruny too feels as though she has been provided the skills and opportunities she needs to move forward in her academic and professional pursuits.

“The class will help me reach my goals as I am interested in the medical field,” Bruny said. “I will be able to be involved more with healthcare and plan to pursue my career.”

MCC’s CET programs provide academic, professional and personal enrichment for students of all ages and stages in their lives – whether they are looking to jumpstart or advance a career in an in-person, remote or hybrid work environment.

Visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/careertraining/ for more information about CET’s certificate programs, noncredit courses and MCC’s Pharmacy Technician Program or contact Sheila Morin at [email protected].

Featuring on campus, online and hybrid course formats, MCC is now registering for the Spring 2022 semester, including the college’s two accelerated Mini-mester sessions. For more information, visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/registration/ or call 1-800-818-3434 to register for classes.

Discover your path at Middlesex Community College. As one of the largest, most comprehensive community colleges in Massachusetts, MCC has been a proven leader in education for more than 50 years. Middlesex puts the student first. Meeting each learner where they are, MCC provides them with a safe, welcoming and engaging place to learn. Offering more than 80 degree and certificate programs – plus hundreds of noncredit courses – Middlesex features flexible course formats and a variety of award-winning student support services and resources. Student success starts at MCC!

This press release was produced by the Middlesex Community College. The views expressed here are the author’s own.