NECC Medical Billing and Coding student, Lindsey Santiago

Lindsey Santiago was looking for a college program that would quickly prepare her for the workforce. She found it in Northern Essex’s Medical Billing Certificate Program through iHealth@NECC. She liked it so much she returned for the Medical Coding Certificate Program.

A 2010 honors graduate of Methuen High School, Lindsey initially enrolled in a
four-year, private college in Illinois where she studied music. A talented musician who plays flute, saxophone, piano, and sings, Lindsey thought she might make a career of it. After two years of studying elementary education with a concentration in music, she started to think about career opportunities and decided she needed to change direction.

Lindsey started researching career opportunities and with some guidance from her mom who has worked in medical billing for more than 20 years, she enrolled in the Medical Billing Certificate Program offered through
iHealth@NECC.

Today, the 22-year-old works for Home Health VNA in Lawrence, a job she
secured following her internship there. Lindsey was so pleased with the Medical Billing Certificate Program, she enrolled in iHealth’s Medical Coding Certificate Program which she feels will allow her to expand her career options.

While she still plays her instruments, Lindsey says, these certificate programs were right for her.

“This has really worked out well for me, she says. “The Medical Billing and Medical Coding Programs really prepared me for a career. The internship is what really made the difference. You take what you learn in the classroom and apply it during the internship. The internship gives you the opportunity to prove yourself.”