Pictured from left are Ģ������Ƶ President Dr. Greg McLeod, Vichi Jagannathan and Jordan Blake during a recent cohort meeting in Georgia

Ģ������Ƶ is partnering with the Rural Opportunity Institute, Area L AHEC, Strategic Twin-Counties Education Partnership and other regional organizations to develop clearer and more supportive healthcare workforce pathways for local residents. The work is funded by a $50,000 grant from the Education Design Lab’s Strengthening the Rural Workforce through Collaborative Design initiative, which aims to improve career routes in rural communities across the Southeast.

Vichi Jagannathan, co-founder and co-CEO of the Rural Opportunity Institute, said students often express interest in healthcare careers but struggle to understand how to enter the field.

“We’ve been hearing from students about what healthcare jobs are available locally and what they can do,” Jagannathan said. “But there seemed to be a gap.”

That gap includes limited guidance on structured employment pathways that provide on-the-job learning opportunities.

Jordan Blake, regional coordinator for Area L AHEC, said employers across the region report ongoing challenges in attracting and retaining healthcare talent.

“Rural areas aren’t necessarily as attractive as urban areas might be to younger students,” Blake said, citing results from a survey conducted as part of the Health Talent Alliance statewide initiative through the NC Center on the Workforce for Health. “A lot of the talent trained here ends up in Raleigh and larger areas. This has been a significant issue.”

The Education Design Lab grant seeks to address persistent challenges in the region’s healthcare pipeline, including high attrition in training programs and confusion among students navigating complex credential sequences, or the order they must follow for training, degrees and licensures.

“Healthcare is one of the most critical workforce needs in our region, and too many individuals who want to pursue these careers struggle to understand the training routes or feel underprepared for the rigor of health-related programs,” said Ģ������Ƶ President Dr. Greg McLeod. “By strengthening these pathways and embedding learner voice more intentionally in program design, we can help students build confidence, complete credentials and transition into meaningful careers that support the well-being of eastern North Carolina.”
ROI, a trauma-informed nonprofit that has worked in Edgecombe County since 2017, serves as the coordinating organization for the collaborative. Its role includes convening partners, aligning employer demand with community college preparation, and coordinating shared measurement across the initiative.

“This work is incredibly timely,” Jagannathan said. She noted that while students frequently report confusion about accessing work-based learning, employers face shortages and high turnover in essential roles.

“This collaborative allows ROI and Area L AHEC to bring students, educators and employers together to design pathways that work for rural learners,” she said.

Area L AHEC convenes regional healthcare employers monthly to review workforce data, identify shortages and barriers to recruitment and retention through the Health Talent Alliance Collaborative that launched in December of 2025. It is aimed at addressing healthcare workforce shortages in North Carolina by understanding regional workforce needs and developing targeted programs to fill identified gaps.

STEP and Edgecombe County Public Schools support career exploration for high school students through job shadowing, career fairs and readiness programming, complementing Ģ������Ƶ’s health sciences programs and strengthening the incoming pipeline.

Students participate in STEP’s Healthcare Connections where they explore various medical professions.

“STEP is proud to serve as a connector—bringing together healthcare providers, educators and community partners to expand work-based learning opportunities and expose students to the wide range of careers in healthcare,” said Pamela Gould, executive director of STEP. “By strengthening these partnerships and supporting the reestablishment of Health Science programs in our high schools, we are creating earlier pathways for students to explore these careers and become stronger candidates for postsecondary credentials. Ultimately, our goal is to retain our own talent and build a healthcare workforce that serves our community.”

The partners are participating in an 18-month cohort led by the Education Design Lab. The cohort will guide the collaborative through student interviews, student journey mapping, employer-validated pathway design, and the launch of pilot work-based learning or apprenticeship models.

“By the end of the initiative, we expect to move from fragmented but promising efforts to a structured, learner-informed, employer-backed pilot pathway with students at the decision-making table,” Jagannathan said.

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Students in EMS programs at Ģ������Ƶ participate in a mass casualty simulation event, highlighting the quality of training they receive.

Ģ������Ƶ has earned accreditation for its Advanced Emergency Medical Technician and paramedic programs from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, a national accrediting body for health science professions. The recognition affirms Ģ������Ƶ’s commitment to high-quality EMS education that meets CAAHEP’s national standards.

“This accreditation is an important step forward for our Advanced EMT and paramedic programs,” said Adam Culbertson, Ģ������Ƶ’s director of public services. “It shows we are meeting national EMS educational standards and will benefit students across the state who are looking to become nationally certified as providers.”

Ģ������Ƶ’s Advanced EMT program is the second in North Carolina to earn full accreditation.

CAAHEP accreditation ensures students receive an educational experience that prepares them with the knowledge, skills and professional competencies needed for success in allied health careers. Graduates of accredited programs are often preferred by employers, and many certification bodies require completion of a CAAHEP-accredited program to sit for certification exams.

Dr. Barry S. Eckert, president of CAAHEP, emphasized the value of accreditation.

“Choosing a CAAHEP-accredited program is crucial for students seeking a career in allied health,” he said. “It ensures that they receive an education that is both comprehensive and relevant to current industry needs, ultimately benefiting their future employers and people receiving care.”

More information about Ģ������Ƶ’s Advanced EMT and paramedic programs is available at edgecombe.edu/ems.

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Slideshow

Ģ������Ƶ held its Emergency Medical Services graduation ceremony Dec. 4 in Tarboro. Sixty-two students completed their training, receiving their certificate and eligibility to take the state test and become certified. Of those 62 students, 37 completed Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), 14 completed Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT), and 11 completed paramedic training.

An EMT delivers emergency medical services outside of the hospital, such as at homes, accident scenes, public places and in ambulances. The AEMT program is designed for individuals who are already EMT’s. In this program, they advance their knowledge and ability to provide treatment. Paramedics are licensed to provide a wide range of advanced emergency services and some complex procedures outside of the hospital.

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EMT graduates and instructors are:

Seated L-R:
Savannah Amerson
Briley Griffin
Aniyah Neil
Olivia Eubanks
Mariana Surles

Standing L-R:
Christy Keen (instructor)
Kathryn Alford (instructor)
Caleb Harrell
Mason Williams
Robin Osten
Kemirah Davis
Adam Culbertson (instructor)
Hannah Keen (instructor)
Not pictured: Jayla Everett

Advanced EMT graduates and instructors are:

L-R:
Ashley Lynch
Zachary Temple
Tyler Curlings
ShyAnn Clark (instructor)
Adam Culbertson (instructor)
Shane Cayton (instructor)
Andrew Owens
Christie Thomas
Not pictured: Kiara Lafayette, Thomas Moore and Heather Satterwhite

Paramedic graduates and instructors are:

Instructors are Kneeling L-R:
ShyAnn Clark
Tim Boyd
Brooke Worley
Christopher Tinder
Adam Culbertson
Stephen Worley
Zyquavion Blango

2nd Row L-R:
Austin Ramsey
Alexi Phillips
Ashley Villanova
Lexi Phillips
Ashley Lang
Harley Whitehead
Dustin Pierce

3rd Row L-R:
Justin Short
Anthony Torres
Seth Peterson
Brandy Bonds
LaWanda Sessoms
Austin Burbank
Dylan Burbank
Ryan Gillespie
Shane Cayton (instructor)
Not pictured: Carter Baker

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The family of Betty B. Ipock has established the Betty B. Ipock Memorial Endowed Scholarship at Ģ������Ƶ. From left are Betty Ipock’s son, Adam Ipock; his wife, Cathy Ipock; and Lynwood Roberson, executive director of the Ģ������Ƶ Foundation.

The family of Betty B. Ipock has endowed a scholarship in her memory at Ģ������Ƶ.

Ipock, who passed away in 1999, was a lifelong registered nurse. Her service to the profession included teaching nursing students at Ģ������Ƶ.

The Betty B. Ipock Memorial Endowed Scholarship will support students who are studying toward a degree in health sciences at Ģ������Ƶ.

Ipock earned a nursing degree in 1959 at the NC Baptist Hospital School of Nursing, a division of the Wake Forest School of Medicine.

As a registered nurse, she enjoyed practicing nursing in various settings throughout her career, including Bertie Memorial Hospital in Windsor, Dr. Thompson Clinic in Trenton, Craven Memorial Hospital in New Bern, as an industrial nurse at Weyerhaeuser in Vanceboro, as a nursing instructor at Fountain Correctional Center in Rocky Mount, and as a nursing instructor at Ģ������Ƶ.

According to her son, Adam Ipock, “Known for her compassion and intellectual curiosity throughout her life, she would be thrilled to aid students pursuing academic success to achieve their career goals.”

“We are honored that the Ipock family has selected Ģ������Ƶ to establish the Betty B. Ipock Memorial Endowed Scholarship,” says Lynwood Roberson, executive director of the Ģ������Ƶ Foundation. “We are proud that it honors a former Ģ������Ƶ employee, and it will provide a tremendous benefit to students in our health sciences programs.”

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Ģ������Ƶ staff, family, and friends honored 130 graduates of programs during the annual Health Occupations Recognition Ceremony held January 30. Graduates completed 200 credentials in programs such as , , , and . Some students completed more than one program and earned multiple credentials. Several earned three or four credentials.

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Graduates of Ģ������Ƶ’s Health Occupations program were honored by the College during a January 31 recognition ceremony.

Graduates of programs at Ģ������Ƶ were honored by College staff, family, and friends during the annual Recognition Ceremony held January 31.

More than 200 students completed programs in , Introduction to Direct Care, Direct Care Basics, , , and , , , and . Some students completed more than one program and earned multiple credentials.

Since began in 2016, more than 100 students have completed the program, which trains lay persons to become advocates for healthy behaviors in their communities.

The College partners with the Opportunities Industrialization Center and the Workforce Development Board to offer the .

is a 232-hour program for the unemployed or underemployed. Training includes three phases: Intro to Direct Care, Direct Care, and . Forty-four students enrolled in these phases in 2018, an increase from 28 students in 2017.

Ģ������Ƶ continues to offer the . Thirty-six students have completed the NAI, NAII, and CPR certifications since the program began four years ago. Many of these graduates have entered Ģ������Ƶ following graduation from high school to pursue a healthcare career.

“We are very proud of these graduates and applaud their efforts to enter the heathcare field,” says Toria Moore, chair of . “We all are working toward the same goal: creating a skilled workforce and supporting people who have a genuine interest in improving their lives.”

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Students in the Ģ������Ƶ EMT-Paramedic program completed a clinical rotation with the UNC Health Care’s medical transport helicopter based at Nash UNC Health Care in Rocky Mount. Shown are (front, from left) Ashley Batten, Courtney Smith, Craig Williams, Robert Lacks, Bobby Paige, Phillip Carraway, Alvin Jones, (back) Aaron Reaves, Caleb Beyer, Calvin Horne Jr., Benjamin Cayton, Coordinator John Perry, and Ethan Nichols.

Fourteen students completed a recent EMT-Paramedic class at Ģ������Ƶ.

The one-year EMT-Paramedic course includes classroom instruction, clinical rotations, and an EMS field internship. Upon successful completion of the EMT-Paramedic program, graduates are eligible to take the North Carolina Paramedic certification exam.

Graduates of the 2018 EMT-Paramedic class are:

• Ashley Batten
• Caleb Beyer, valedictorian
• Phillip Carraway
• Benjamin Cayton, Cadet Choice Award winner
• Preston Elks
• Anna Henry, Instructor Choice Award winner
• Calvin Horne Jr.
• Alvin Jones
• Robert Lacks
• Ethan Nichols
• Bobby Paige
• Aaron Reaves
• Courtney Smith
• Germaine Smith

Robert Whistler, public safety training coordinator at Ģ������Ƶ, directs the .

The next EMT-Paramedic class begins in July 2019. To learn more, please contact Whistler at whistlerr@edgecombe.edu or 823-5166, ext. 120.

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Ida Arrington (left) checks Donia Simmons’ blood pressure during a Community Health Coach class at Ģ������Ƶ.

With so many people in the area struggling to maintain healthy lifestyles, Ģ������Ƶ is offering students a chance help their neighbors to better health.

Thanks to a $25,000 grant through Durham-based Manpower Development Corp., which develops projects to reduce poverty, the College began offering tuition-free classes this year.

“We’ve had 40 students complete the class so far,” says Kathy Webb, coordinator of at Ģ������Ƶ and one of the grant facilitators. “With the grant, we can pay for their tuition and supplies.”

In addition to tuition, Ģ������Ƶ also is supplying graduates under the grant program with blood pressure cuffs and other items to help them in the field.

“It’s unreasonable for us to expect students to go out in the community and show people what a proper blood pressure is or how to eat healthier if they don’t have the tools,” Webb says.

In addition, the grant is helping fund a stipend for this year’s community health coaches who conduct some type of organized activity to show area residents good health habits. With the proper documentation and setting, students can earn up to $300 if they complete three different community events that increase awareness for healthier lifestyles.

The College began offering its curriculum about three years ago, and about 30 students a year have completed the 100-hour class that focuses on disease prevention, obesity, and access to care.

“The grant has helped increase the class size,” Webb says. “We’re hoping the stipend will help get students out in the community more.”

Edgecombe County ranks 97th out of 100 counties in North Carolina for a healthy population, according to the County Health Rankings and Roadmaps report published annually by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

A quarter of the county lives below the poverty level, and 35 percent of Edgecombe County residents have a body mass index above 30.

The class already has paid off for numerous Ģ������Ƶ students, says Mary Stocks, chair of at Ģ������Ƶ and one of the grant’s facilitators.

One graduate works for the Edgecombe County Department of Social Services, using the skills she learned in the class by visiting local residents in the community to show them healthier ways to live.

“In addition, several churches in the community have indicated that they would like their members to be health coaches,” Stocks adds.

The tuition grant is phase three of a larger Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust grant that also helped fund the College’s on the Tarboro campus.

In addition, the grant has supported community gardens at Pattillo Middle School and Iglesia Internacional Principe De Paz church in Tarboro.

Two classes begin in January. A morning class on the Tarboro campus starts on January 22 and meets Tuesday/Thursday. An afternoon class on the Rocky Mount campus begins January 28 and meets Monday/Wednesday.

To learn more, please contact norvillej@edgecombe.edu or call 823-5166, ext. 202.

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