Career panelists Nancy Clover, Tori Gamble, Cindy Johnson, and Mike Woronka.

Over thirty people recently attended a Career Panel and Networking Night for Healthcare Professionals hosted by Northern Essex Community College’s Alumni Office and the Student Success Center.

The audience, which included Northern Essex students and alumni, had the opportunity to hear a career panel comprised of four NECC alumni, Cindy Johnson, registered nurse, Atlantic Surgical Associates and Vein Institute; Tori Gamble, executive director, Benchmark Senior Living; Mike Woronka, chief executive officer; Action Ambulance Service, Inc., and Nancy Clover, registered nurse, certified occupational health nurse-specialist; president at Occupational Health Connections. Panelists shared information about themselves and their fields and talked about the many opportunities available now in the healthcare fields.

Advice ranged from practical to professional including:

 “In the health field it will always be people taking care of people, so make sure you’re advocating for your patients the way you’d want someone to do for you or your loved one,” Tori Gamble, Benchmark Senior Living.

 “The harder you work the more things start happening,” Mike Woronka, Action Ambulance Service.

“Keep your skills—especially your computer skills up to date,” Nancy Clover, Occupational Health Connections.

“Iron your clothes and take pride the way you dress for work,” Cindy Johnson, Atlantic Surgical Associates and Vein Institute . 

This event also included a tour of the iHealth Building where participants were able to stop in on a class and visit a Phlebotomy and EKG Lab.

Lindsey Mayo, director of Alumni and Donor Relations called the event a “success,” saying “it provided a forum for students to ask questions about working in healthcare and hear from some dynamic NECC alumni.”

Karletty Medina, retention counselor, NECC Student Success Center, added that the event helped to expose students to varied healthcare career paths. “We are in the process of planning similar events for the future.”

Northern Essex Community College offers many opportunities to earn your health profession associates degree, certificate or train for a new health career by taking courses when they fit into your schedule—day, evening, weekends, or online.