ASCEND Medical Science

Preparing students for a wide variety of healthcare careers! Students can graduate high school as a Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA-NHA) or a Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist.

ORCA ASCEND Medical Sciences Pathway students will leave high school well prepared to enter a variety of healthcare careers. Students who complete this pathway use their newfound health care knowledge and experience in one of two main ways: 1) Students may choose to go straight into the healthcare workforce as a CCMA-NHA right after high school, or 2) Students may leverage their coursework, internship experience, and healthcare certifications to gain acceptance into competitive future healthcare training opportunities. This program is built to be foundational to any healthcare career choice, such as phlebotomist, EKG technician, physical therapist, nurse, or even doctor.

During their coursework ORCA ASCEND Medical Sciences Pathway students will learn about human diseases, disorders, diagnostic tests and treatments; how to ethically and professionally act in a variety of healthcare settings; learn how to perform and interpret routine medical exams; how to don and doff personal protective equipment; and how to perform CPR/AED/First Aid. On top of this coursework, students will have numerous opportunities to visit local clinics for tours, talk to healthcare professionals during synchronous video lessons, and learn about a wide-variety of health care career choices.

Medical Science Pathway courses can include, Introduction to Healthcare Careers, Medical Terminology, Health Science Education I/II, Medical Law & Ethics, CCMA Exam Preparation, and a Medical Science Internship/Capstone course.

YOU MIGHT LOVE A CAREER IN THE MEDICAL SCIENCE FIELD IF:

  • You enjoy helping people.

  • You are interested in job stability and growth.

  • You want to be able to live or work anywhere in the United States.

  • You are motivated to succeed.

  • You enjoy collaborating.

  • You are comfortable in a fast-paced setting.

  • You like learning about how things work.

  • You want to be a lifelong learner.

  • You would like to build customer service skills.

  • You are detail-oriented.

ASCEND MEDICAL SCIENCE GRADUATES HAVE MANY DEGREE AND CERTIFICATION OPTIONS AFTER COMPLETING HIGH SCHOOL. SOME EXAMPLES INCLUDE:

  • Certificates: Phlebotomy Technician, EKG Technician, Cardiographic Technician, Telemetry Monitor Technician, Medical Billing and Coding Specialist, or Dental Assistant.

  • Associate degrees: Health Administration, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Respiratory Technology, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, or Cardiovascular technology.

  • Bachelor degrees: Nursing, Biology or Pre-Med

  • Master degrees: Master of Science in Nursing "MSN), Master of Public Health, Master of Health Administration or Master of Science Healthcare Management.

  • Terminal degrees: Doctorate Degree in Nursing (DNP), PhD in Nursing, Medical Degree (MD), PhD in Healthcare Administration, or PhD in Biomedical Research.

EXAMPLES OF POSSIBLE CAREERS THAT ASCEND GRADUATES CAN PURSUE:

  • Medical Assistant

  • Phlebotomy Technician

  • Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) & Paramedic

  • EKG Technician

  • Cardiographic Technician

  • Telemetry Monitor Technician

  • Medical Billing and Coding Specialist

  • Dental Assistant

  • Neurodiagnostic Technician

  • Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer

  • Cath Lab Technician

  • Medical Front Office Administration Specialist

  • Behavioral Technician Specialist

  • Vascular Technician

  • Respiratory Therapist

  • Radiologic Technician

  • Occupational Therapist

  • Athletic Trainer

  • Nursing

  • Biomedical Researcher

  • Healthcare Administrator

  • Informaticist

  • Epidemiologist

  • Genetic Counselor

  • Physician

DID YOU KNOW?

The Certified Medical Assistant training program through Portland Community College costs around $6,500 to complete, but the ASCEND CCMA program is FREE for ORCA students.

YOUR ASCEND MASTER TEACHERS:

DR. ELIZABETH "BETH" WASHAK

Dr. Elizabeth “Beth” Washak, DC has a Bachelor’s in Science and a Doctorate in Chiropractic from Palmer College of Chiropractic. Dr. Washak worked as a CNA through college and in chiropractic for over ten years rising to the level of clinical director of her own practice. She has extensive experience in patient care and education, medical coding and billing, medical annotation and is a certified BLS instructor through the American Heart Association (AHA).

Other ASCEND Medical Science Teachers

MRS. KELLEN SHERWOOD

Mrs. Sherwood has loved learning for as long as she can remember, and developed an interest in science and heath in high school. After graduating from University of California, Irvine with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, she became certified as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) to gain experience in the medical field. Mrs. Sherwood ended up taking a job as a Medical Assistant instead, working in that role for five years. Along the way, her passion for education was rekindled and she went back to school to complete a Master of Arts in Teaching degree (MAT) at George Fox University. Mrs. Sherwood is excited to combine these areas of interest, and help students discover their own paths toward fulfilling careers.

MRS. AMY LEE

Mrs. Lee began her career as an athletic trainer after graduating from Oregon State University. While managing a physical therapy clinic, she went back to school to become a licensed massage therapist. After a few years, she began teaching massage therapy classes and discovered her love for teaching. Mrs. Lee recently completed her Master of Education degree through Grand Canyon University. She is excited to share her knowledge about the amazing human body, her personal experiences, and all the ways to be involved in the healthcare field with her students!

Interested in joining? 

If you have any questions about the program please contact the Career Advisory Teachers, or fill out the Interested in Joining form below.