Graduates of the Southwestern Illinois College Nursing Education program gathered at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Belleville before the 2016 Health Sciences Pinning Ceremony. Graduates from Granite City include (from left, first row) Jennifer Fouts and Krystal Mikuleza; (second row) Sharon Jameson and Misty Wheatley, and Devon Jagosh of Pontoon Beach. Registered nurses provide medical services that range from promoting good hygiene to administering medication. Nurses practice in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, physicians’ offices, schools, industries and home-health care settings. SWIC offers a two-year associate in applied science degree in Nursing Education. This year, 200 students graduated from SWIC Health Sciences programs. (SWIC photo by Kevin Theole)

Graduates of the Southwestern Illinois College Medical Assistant program gathered recently at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Belleville for the 2016 Health Sciences Pinning Ceremony. Graduates from Granite City include (from left) Sara Schulte, Rachael M. Warford, Tre’vonna Williams and Ashley Paskero. Schulte delivered the farewell address to her class. Medical assistants perform a variety of services, including gathering medical histories, transcribing records, sterilizing instruments and performing electrocardiograms. Medical assistants are employed in physicians’ offices, the pharmaceutical industry, supply sales, clinical research and hospitals. SWIC offers a 10-month certificate of proficiency and a two-year associate in applied science degree in the medical assistant program. This year, a total of 200 students graduated from SWIC Health Sciences programs. (SWIC Photo by Linda Gass-Burgess)

Graduates of the Southwestern Illinois College Respiratory Care program gathered at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Belleville before the 2016 Health Sciences Pinning Ceremony. Celebrating the graduation of students are (from left, first row) Program Coordinator Diane Dodd, graduates Deirdre Highley of Edwardsville, Hennel Cotton and De’ Arika Ray, both of Belleville, Haley Gass of Granite City, Casey Reeves of Millstadt and Victoria Coca of Belleville; second row, Jessica Arzavala and Molly McDowell, both of Collinsville, Stephen Ward of Smithton, Gregory Pacheco of Collinsville and instructor John Bast. McDowell presented the farewell address to her class and won the Highest Honors Award for overall high achievement in the program. Coca won the Donald F. Egan, M.D., Memorial Award for excellence in professional behavior in the respiratory care field. The practice of respiratory care entails oxygen therapy, continuous aerosol and humidity therapy, medication by aerosol therapy, complete and bedside pulmonary function testing, ventilator management, airway care and CPR. Respiratory therapists are employed in hospitals, medical centers, skilled care facilities, physicians’ offices, home-health-care agencies and medical product companies. SWIC offers a two-year associate in applied science degree in respiratory care. This year, 200 students graduated from SWIC Health Sciences programs. (SWIC Photo by Linda Gass-Burgess)