Oakton holds health careers open house

High school students and others interested in health careers are invited to attend a free open house beginning at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 19, at Oakton Community College's Margaret Burke Lee Science and Health Careers Center, 1600 E. Golf Road, Des Plaines.

The open house will include breakout sessions with faculty and department chairs to discuss industry trends and how Oakton programs can prepare students for successful careers. Attendees can learn more about basic nurse assistant training, health information technology, medical assistant, medical laboratory technology, nursing, pharmacy technician, phlebotomy and physical therapist assistant programs at Oakton.

"Oakton has a number of health career certificates that can prepare a student to work in a health career field within a year," said Dean of the Science and Health Careers Division Ruth Williams.

"While working, students can also continue to take classes at Oakton to earn a health careers associate degree to further their earning power."

The U.S. Department of Labor estimates more than 2.1 million new jobs will be added in health fields by 2024 due to an aging population and the growing number of people who have access to health insurance.

Visitors will have the opportunity to tour the Lee Center, the $40 million marquee project of Oakton's $68.5 million facilities master plan. Visit www.oakton.edu/healthcareers for information or call (847) 635-1835.