New Healthcare Center Opens Thanks to Earmark Grant

On September 3, a grand opening and ribbon cutting was held to introduce an educational center that will help provide extensive training for individuals to fill much-needed positions in the healthcare workforce across the Lehigh Valley. 

With the support of Congresswoman Susan Wild, Northampton Community College (NCC) received a $2,729,288 federal earmark grant that fully funded the creation of the Interdisciplinary Healthcare Education and Workforce Development Center on the college’s Bethlehem campus located in Penn Hall. The funding has also enabled the college to expand healthcare education offerings with two new accredited programs in cardiac sonography and respiratory therapy. 

At the grand opening, Wild said, “I am so impressed by the work you all do, not only to help our students, but also what NCC has done in so many areas locally. Because of this, employers have the workers they need so that people can stay here in the Lehigh Valley and allow our community to flourish.” 

NCC’s grant team worked with the Dean of the School of Health Professions & Science, Judy Rex, to identify healthcare careers that are in high demand, along with leading-edge healthcare technology that is being used in progressive health systems. 

“This center is more than just a building—it’s a space where our students will learn, collaborate, and grow into the nursing, respiratory therapy, and sonography professionals our community needs. The resources provided through this grant, including advanced equipment and strong partnerships, will ensure our students receive the best possible education and training,” said Rex. 

In the simulation rooms, there are manikins that have several pulse points with a heartbeat and reactive pupils. In fact, the manikins can breathe and move and are anatomically correct. They are designed to provide real life scenarios for students, including performing CPR, drawing blood, helping to deliver a baby, giving APGAR scores, and much more.  

One notable capability of the center is that it can teach “change in condition,” which NCC nursing faculty say is one of the hardest things new graduates must learn. For example, professors can create a drop in heart rate, and students can learn how to respond to this sign of change so that they can perform quickly and effectively.  

“These manikins provide clinical experience that students may not always get see hands on in the hospitals,” said Nursing Project Coordinator, Mary Jean Osbourne. “For example, students can spend weeks in a hospital and never actually get to see a baby being born. This helps to provide that important part of learning for students.” 

One unique feature of the center is the ability for professors to watch the students in the simulation labs and make notes on the video feed in real time. Later, they can provide feedback to students regarding their performance or needed improvements. Faculty can assess students’ competency and comfort levels, and even address errors, all in a safe environment before students head out to the real world. This process can also address deficiencies in student learning, which will allow NCC to adjust curriculum and respond to those areas of need for students. 

The new cardiac sonography room is equipped with new EKG machines and state-of-the-art ultrasound machines, which are portable so students can travel to other areas of the center to work with fellow students. The center is meant to foster collaboration among NCC’s nursing, respiratory therapy, and sonography programs—ensuring students graduate with the skills they need to thrive in today’s healthcare environment.  

“These areas of center allow our students to go from knowing to doing. Effective teamwork and communication enhance patient safety and improve patient outcomes. Interprofessional simulation provides deliberate practice of those competencies,” said Osbourne.  

“With patient safety as our goal, practicing until we get it right is not enough,” she said. “We need to practice until we cannot get it wrong.”