Apr. 22, 2025
South College Orlando hosted students from Tohopekaliga High School to get a hands-on introduction to careers in healthcare and spark their interest in pursuing varying fields, including surgical technology, respiratory therapy and radiography.
The immersive 5.5-hour field trip for about 30 students included an introduction to South College, tours of multiple labs and a feedback session, along with snacks and lunch. Students were able to experience how different objects appear on X-ray and ultrasound and practice scrubbing in.
“Central Florida is a robust area for opportunities in healthcare fields, and we are glad to expose high school students to what we offer at South College,” South College Orlando President Jim McCoy said. “The students also experienced a college campus, met with faculty members and learned specifics about our medical and healthcare programs.”
Students toured diagnostic medical sonography, radiography, surgical technology, nursing simulation and respiratory therapy laboratories and learned about careers in medical assisting and physician assistant.
The student activities included learning how to intubate a model in respiratory therapy; properly “scrub in” as a surgical technician; and use ultrasound scanning through medical imaging phantoms, which mimic body tissue.
The South College Orlando campus, which opened in 2021, has expanded its original program offerings which now include healthcare-related certificate, associate and bachelor’s programs in areas such as Health Science, Imaging Science, Medical Assisting, Nursing, Respiratory Therapy and Surgical Technology.
The Orlando campus is located at 6649 Westwood Blvd., Suite 100. For more information about South College Orlando visit south.edu/location/orlando.
About South College
South College serves more than 15,000 students and is proud of its more than 17,000 graduates. The institution offers academic programs at multiple levels, including professional certificates and associate, bachelor’s, master’s, educational specialist and doctoral degree programs via campuses in Knoxville and Nashville, Tennessee; Asheville, North Carolina; Atlanta and Marietta, Georgia; Indianapolis, Indiana; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Dallas, Texas; and Orlando, Florida, as well as Online and Competency-Based Education (CBE). South College focuses on ensuring high standards and quality educational offerings, maintaining multiple authorizations and accreditations.
South College’s programs span diverse fields such as business, criminal justice, dental hygiene/assisting, diagnostic medical sonography, nursing, occupational therapy, paralegal studies, physical therapy, radiography, respiratory therapy, physician assistant studies, pharmacy and surgical technology. The institution is dedicated to preparing students with the skills and knowledge needed for the professional opportunities ahead of them. For more information, visit south.edu.
