President's Message

This past fall, I welcomed local health care industry leaders to our campus during the inaugural presidential community luncheon. It was an opportunity to gauge the current state of health care and engage in discussions that will help COD better serve future workforce needs.

We also highlighted our health care academic offerings—more than 30 certificate and degree areas of study—and invited guests to tour our Health and Science Center, where they could see the many hands-on learning environments. These include the hospital simulation and operating room labs; the Dental Hygiene Clinic, which is available to community members; and the CT scanning lab. The latter is impressive as COD is the first community college in the nation to own a CT scanner.

In 2023, I plan to continue hosting these luncheons as another way of bringing the College and the community together. It is important that industry leaders know what we offer and how we can help them. These conversations also allow us to foster critical industry partnerships that can lead to additional clinical and internship opportunities, scholarships, and advisory board membership. 

Together we can create a stronger workforce and dynamic communities as we look ahead toward the future.