Category Archives: Students

Welcome to Pennsylvania Institute of Health and Technology!

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The Pennsylvania Institute of Health and Technology was established in 1987 to serve the needs of southwestern Pennsylvania.

Students at the PIHT campus enjoy a small campus atmosphere where they are known by name and receive individualized training and attention. It has been the answer for many students, whether they are a young adult right out of high school or an older individual looking to acquire skills necessary for today’s careers.

PIHT offers a variety of healthcare programs including Medical Assisting, Medical Office Administration and Practical Nursing.

Employers in southwestern Pennsylvania have worked with PIHT for over 25 years and this long-term experience is a benefit to the students. Frequent communication with these employers has allowed PIHT to stay current with the skills employers are seeking in idea candidates and their staffing needs. This allows us to effectively place students in careers upon graduation.

If you are interested in a new beginning in your life, contact us today! Visit www.piht.edu or call 724.437.4600!

For more information on graduation rates, median debt of students who have completed their programs, and other important information, please visit our website at www.piht.edu/programs.

Practical Nursing Student Highlight – Samantha Snyder

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Practical Nursing student Samantha Snyder said that she decided to enroll in the Pennsylvania Institute of Health and Technology in 2010 because she knew she would get a good education. She graduated from the Medical Assisting program in 2011.

After graduation, she worked as a certified medical assistant at Westmoreland County Prison, but she had such a good experience at PIHT the first time that she decided to enroll again for a PN degree.

Samantha Snyder

Before she could return to PIHT, she had to make sure she was financially able to support herself and family.

“I am the sole provider for my grandmother, younger sister and myself so I worked as much overtime as I could to save money so that I was able to come back for the PN program,” Samantha said.

While Samantha may support her family financially, they support her decision to go back to school.

“My grandmother was a nurse and she has always pushed me to do my best and to do what I love,” Samantha said. “She is always there for me when I need her.”

Some instructors also stood out to Samantha during her time at PIHT.

“Pam Hughes has always been a big help to me, she has always been there for me throughout my education as an MA and also through my process of entering in the PN program,” she said. “Lisa Janesko was wonderful at helping me understand my financial situation. She took time to explain to me how these things would affect me now and in the future and was able to answer any question that I threw at her. Everyone at PIHT has been good to me.”

For more information on graduation rates, median debt of students who have completed their programs, and other important information, please visit our website at www.piht.edu/programs.

Business Student Highlight – Michelle Mickey

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Business administration student Michelle Mickey took a year off after graduating high school to work a full-time job.

“I realized that it was going nowhere and wanted to get an education so I wouldn’t be stuck in that job forever,” Michelle said. “I knew what I wanted out of my schooling, which was affordable hands-on education and I knew I didn’t want to go to a four-year college.”

She then decided to look into the Pennsylvania Institute of Health and Technology.

“When I visited PIHT, it was everything I wanted out of a school,” Michelle said.

The small class sizes really appealed to Michelle.

“With the small classes, you really feel like you are contributing to the class and the instructors are always there if you need them,” she said.

Michelle decided to study business so she could get the training she needs to advance in management and eventually become a business owner. Her goal after she graduates is to move south and eventually open her own business.

For more information on graduation rates, median debt of students who have completed their programs, and other important information, please visit our website at www.piht.edu/programs.

Gear Up for Holiday Employment! Visit Your Career Management Department

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It’s holiday season and Pennsylvania Institute of Health and Technology’s Career Management Department is ready to help students find part-time employment!

Students who need help finding a position for a little extra cash this season can contact or visit the Career Management Director at their campus. Career Management Directors have current seasonal job leads in the local campus area and will be holding workshops to develop resumes and cover letters for seasonal positions.

To contact your Career Management Director, click here!

 
For more information on graduation rates, median debt of students who have completed their programs, and other important information, please visit our website at www.piht.edu/programs.

PIHT Business Student Highlight – Courtney McKenzie

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Courtney McKenzie decided to look into Pennsylvania Institute of Health and Technology after a friend told her it was a great school.

Once she saw that the courses in the business program seemed to be more work than the program she was currently enrolled in at another school, she decided to transfer.

“Yes, I know that sounds like a turn off for some people but I would rather have more work to do,” Courtney said. “It keeps me busy. PIHT has definitely kept me busy.”

Courtney’s favorite part of attending PIHT is that there are two classes every six weeks, which makes it “easier to focus on what we are learning and get more done in a set amount of time.”

“It is difficult to have seven classes that are about an hour long each week and every day while trying to remember everything that is due,” she said. “You can easily comprehend what is going on in the class and are able to ask the instructor any question.”

Courtney chose to study business because during high school she enjoyed helping people with papers, organizing events and keeping things in line.

“I figured that taking this course will help me to better those skills and enable me to learn more as I continue on to graduation,” Courtney said.

Courtney has her mother to thank for encouraging her to continue her education

“I was going to wait a year after graduation to go to school, but she was persistent and made me apply,” she said. “I am glad that she did though because I enjoy going to school and learning new things. She knows that I can accomplish anything that I set my mind to and will be right there for me no matter what that accomplishment may be.”

For more information on graduation rates, median debt of students who have completed their programs, and other important information, please visit our website at www.piht.edu/programs.

PIHT Student Highlight – Goldie Daniels

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Goldie Daniels has four children to support and knew she needed a good job to do so. She chose to come to Pennsylvania Institute of Health and Technology because she could obtain a degree that would not take four years for completion and they offer a healthcare degree she was very interested in.

“The PN Program at PIHT offers the opportunity to start a good career in something that I will enjoy doing,” Goldie explained.

For entrance to the PN Program at PIHT, Goldie explained that she had to take an Entrance Exam called the TEAS V. Once she passed that exam, she interviewed with the Campus Director and Director of the PN Program and in a few short days, received a letter of acceptance and a follow-up call from the Director. Another appointment was then scheduled for the enrollment agreement and Goldie was ready to begin!

“I have enjoyed the entire program so far, but maternity has been my favorite part,” said Goldie.

Goldie’s goals for this program are to support her family and use this as a stepping stone to reach her ultimate goal of becoming a midwife.

“The small atmosphere and one-on-one interaction are two of the great benefits of attending PIHT,” explained Goldie.

Goldie’s advice for potential students interested in the PN Program at PIHT is, “Be prepared because the program is time consuming and exhausting, but it’s well worth it! The instructors and stuff at PIHT will help you succeed, but be prepared to put in a lot of work and time to excel. The program is not for everyone, so do your research and choose a program that is right for you at PIHT!”


For more information on graduation rates, median debt of students who have completed their programs, and other important information, please visit our website at www.piht.edu/programs.

Meet the PIHT Staff: Medical Coordinator Pam Hughes

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Medical Coordinator Pam Hughes believes that learning should be fun and challenging, so she incorporates those characteristics into her teaching and the classroom each day. Each day, Pam enters the classroom ready to embrace knowledge on students in the healthcare field.

She said, “I am very passionate about what I teach and I encourage the students to engage in conversation and give me personal examples to help others understand the topic more clearly. Group discussions have always worked well in my classes to help students gain a full understanding of healthcare topics.”

Her passion doesn’t stop with the classroom. Pam says that the students keep her teaching. “I love the students PIHT and when you know you are a part of their education, it gives you great satisfaction. When they walk across that stage on graduation day, feelings of pride and happiness for the students overcome me.”

As a healthcare instructor at PIHT, Pam says that her favorite part of teaching at PIHT is watching them grow as individuals throughout their enrollment. Her advice for students is to set goals and never stop learning.

A few fun facts about Pam Hughes:
• The little free time she has is spent with her family, but most of all she continues her education so she can make sure the students are getting the most up-to-date medical information
• Her favorite vacation spot is Myrtle Beach, SC
• Her favorite book is anything to do with nursing because that seems to be all she ever reads


For more information on graduation rates, median debt of students who have completed their programs, and other important information, please visit our website at www.piht.edu/programs.

Pennsylvania Institute of Health and Technology to Host ‘Truthland’ Movie Screening Wednesday, July 18th

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The Pennsylvania Institute of Health and Technology is hosting a screening of Truthland: Dispatches from the real Gasland on Wednesday, July 18th at 5:30pm. The event will start with a reception followed by a screening of the 35 minute film and an expert panel discussion.

Pennsylvania Institute of Health and Technology is located on 1015 Industrial Park Drive in Mt. Braddock, PA. For more information, please feel free to contact Julie Warden at jwarden@wvjc.edu or visit www.truthlandmovie.com.

Read below for the official Media Advisory!

“Truthland” Screening to be held on July 18, 2012 at the Pennsylvania Institute of Health and Technology

For Immediate Release *** July 11, 2012
Contact: Julie Tawney Warden, JWarden@wvjc.edu

Uniontown, Pa. – The development of enormous reserves of American energy from tight formations such as shale has been hailed as a “game-changer” by the Energy Information Administration, as playing a “key role in our nation’s clean energy future,” according to the Environmental Protection Agency, and as a means of helping our country “create jobs and power trucks and factories that are cleaner and cheaper,” President Obama said earlier this year.

But for one mother in rural northeast Pennsylvania, the only real question that mattered was this: Is the process used to develop these resources safe? Or is it the way “Gasland” star Josh Fox tried to portray it in his HBO documentary: dangerous, dirty and disruptive – and completely unregulated, to boot? Shelly – a mother, grandmother, farmer, teacher and landowner from Susquehanna County – needed answers, for herself, her family and her community. So she went looking for those answers. Her journey, and her search for the truth, is captured and chronicled in the short film “Truthland.”

A first-of-its-kind project of the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) and Energy In Depth (EID), the costs associated with the production of the 34-minute film were underwritten by industry – but none of the experts who appear in the movie (Shelly included) were paid for their participation. The only thing they were asked was to tell the truth: as best they knew it, and however they saw it. Those interviews comprise “Truthland,” with extended, unedited interviews available at TruthlandMovie.com.

“When we were told we could have natural gas under our farm, we felt very blessed,” said Shelly, who interviewed more than a dozen energy and environmental experts in six states. “But that excitement was tempered somewhat by the negative stories we had heard about hydraulic fracturing. Then came ‘Gasland,’ and that made it even tougher to determine what the truth really was. Well, the science teacher in me had questions, and I owed it to my family to go out and find out what was real. To get our questions answered, I knew I needed to go where the experts were. And so, that’s exactly what I did.”

Natural gas development has been happening in earnest in Pennsylvania since companies began developing the Marcellus Shale. According to state data and other reviews in just a few short years this development has provided billion in revenues to landowners and governments, is indirectly supporting over 200,000 jobs, and is saving consumers thousands of dollars in utility costs.

The screening will be held on July 18 and is free and open to the public and media. The event will begin at 5:30p.m. and will feature a brief reception, followed by a screening of Truthland and an expert panel to answer questions regarding the development of natural gas from shale resources.

Event Details:
Where- Pennsylvania Institute of Health and Technology 1015 Industrial Park Drive Mt. Braddock, PA 15465
When- Wednesday, July 18th – 5:30p.m.

Read More:

• Truthland webpage//Complete film // Movie trailer // “Fear is Toxic” blog // Twitter page // Facebook page
• Podcast: Shelly talks about her experience in making the film
• Fact sheets: Who is Shelly? // Just the Facts // What They Are Saying


For more information on graduation rates, median debt of students who have completed their programs, and other important information, please visit our website at www.piht.edu/programs.

PIHT New Student Highlight – Charles Evans

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Charles Evans is a new student at the Pennsylvania Institute of Health and Technology who has enrolled in the Business Administration Program.

"I chose Pennsylvania Institute of Health and Technology because of the four day school week and the flexible schedule. The schedule allows me to get an education while still spending quality time with my kids. I also enjoy the small class atmosphere because my questions are always answered,” Charles explained.

Academics are certainly a top priority for Charles while he is in school at PIHT. He said, “I have decided that my main goal is to keep my 4.0 GPA. I believe that if you show up everyday and give it your best, good things will happen. If I am able to maintain my GPA, I will graduate on-time and I can then start focusing on my business venture.”

After graduation, Charles hopes to own and operate his own small business. “My business is going to be a firearms dealership and fishing equipment retailer. I came back to school to learn how to get this idea off the ground. I need to know how to construct a business plan, what to do with taxes, how to market and what types of insurance I’ll need. Mr. Langley, an instructor at PIHT, has been amazing me in guiding me toward the answers to my many questions,” said Charles.

Charles decided that PIHT was the perfect decision for his returning to school and definitely recommends it to others. He said, “PIHT is a great choice if you want to further your education while keeping a flexible schedule. This allows you to spend quality time with your kids, hold a job, care for an elderly relative, etc. I personally love being able to work toward making a better life for my children while still having time to raise them. I highly recommend PIHT to anyone who is looking for a quality, flexible education!”


For more information on graduation rates, median debt of students who have completed their programs, and other important information, please visit our website at www.piht.edu/programs.

PIHT Prepares you for a Career – Just Ask Susan Tandy Wilson!

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Pennsylvania Institute of Health and Technology in Uniontown, PA is training students to begin careers that they love! Here’s a quick highlight of a recent graduate who has started a career she loves thanks to her training from PIHT:

Susan Tandy Wilson is a Medical Office Administration graduate from Pennsylvania Institute of Health and Technology and has landed her career as a Medical Office Administrator at Martinelli Eye and Laser Center in Uniontown, PA!

Susan said, “PIHT and their staff provided me with the proper training and classes to prepare me for a career in Medical Office Administration.” Susan mentioned that Medical Terminology, Anatomy, Billing & Coding, Human Resources and Career Preparation were a few courses that really helped her obtain the skills she needed for her ideal career.

“I would like to thank all the instructors at PIHT because if it was not for each and every one of them being there for me and teaching me, I would not be where I am today,” said Susan.

“Most importantly, they believed in me!”

Susan’s advice for a student beginning to search for their career is to keep up the hard work and do not get discouraged. She says, “Sometimes the places you apply might not be hiring at the time, but they will keep you in mind when they are!”

The best advice from Susan: “Believe in yourself, you can do it!”


For more information on graduation rates, median debt of students who have completed their programs, and other important information, please visit our website at www.piht.edu/programs.