Why is Education Important to YOU?

Recent healthcare graduates with limited work experience sometimes struggle with creating a resume that catches an employer’s attention. With many graduates vying for similar job openings, it’s important to set yourself apart from the competition. Making yourself marketable can still be accomplished with limited work experience. Below are the top five resume tips from professionals in the healthcare field.

1. Volunteer – Take advantage of healthcare volunteer opportunities. The Allen School offers multiple healthcare volunteer opportunities for students each month. Through the Institution for HOPE Campaign students can strengthen their resume and relevant volunteer experience.
2. No Blank Spaces – It is a red flag for recruiters if there is blank space on a resume. Shade out the space with words. Add another bullet point, more relevant volunteer experience or awards received if necessary to fill the space. Allen School offers students the ability to qualify for Honor Roll, Attendance Awards, and Student of the Module as well as Valedictorian which are great accomplishments to add to a resume.
3. Key Terms – Recruiters use software that searches for certain keywords. Include, healthcare terms on your resume, so it stands out and potentially gets pulled for an interview! Incorporate words such as: certified, certificate, direct patient care, phlebotomy, EKG, ICD-10 etc.
4. Use Numbers – For example, give an estimate as to how many patients you assisted on a daily bases or the amount of employees managed. Do not keep the potential employers guessing.
5. Two Resumes – Have a medical resume and a separate resume with your past career experience. Always make sure that the resume being submitted is relevant to the job listing.

Recent healthcare graduates implement these tips and see how it makes a difference throughout the job search process. Some of these tweaks may seem small, but can make a significant difference to potential employers. If you are an Allen School student or graduate contact Career Services for more tips on how to become a stand out candidate.

Much to many people’s surprise the Allen School of Health Sciences is national. A lot of prospective and current students assume that we are located in only Brooklyn and Queens, New York; however, we do offer a Medical Billing and Coding program online. The online program caters to those students that are not able to physically come to school due to work demands, proximity, childcare issues, etc. Recently, a few of the Module 1 Ambassadors had a chance to discuss their experiences at the Allen School of Health Sciences, to tell a bit about their background, interests and ultimately share a few of their best practices for being successful in their classes. All of them live in different states, have different hobbies and diverse backgrounds, but they all share common threads that link them such as their passion for the program and academic excellence. We would like to share with you some of the advice and tips these MIBC Module 1 Ambassadors shared for current and prospective MIBC students: • Create a schedule/routine for studying and homework • Do not fall behind – Attendance and Participation is important • Form a study group with classmates • Speak up – If you have a question or concern then ask for clarification • Take it day-by-day, so you do not get overwhelmed Hopefully, these tips will be useful as you take the next step into starting the MIBC program. If healthcare is your passion and you would like to advance your career we encourage you to take a leap and find out more information about our MIBC Online program and the array of campus programs offered. To speak with an advisor contact us at 1-888-429-0046. We look forward to speaking with you!

March is American Red Cross month. In honor of one of the nation’s leading humanitarian organizations the Allen School of Health Sciences would like to thank them for their efforts. The Red Cross has been a fixture in communities throughout the nation and even in various parts of the world for numerous years. Although the organization is known for quite a few philanthropic works. Their mission is simple but impactful, “The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.” According to the American Red Cross, volunteers, employees and supporters of the Red Cross focus on five critical concerns:   – People affected by disasters in America – Support for members of the military and their families – Blood collection, processing and distribution – Health and safety education and training – International relief and development At the Allen School of Health Science we pride ourselves on giving back to the community. We have demonstrated this through our Institution for HOPE (Helping Other People Endure) Campaign which strongly encourages students and their families to get involved. In efforts to make a change and difference in your local area the Allen School of Health Sciences challenges you to volunteer! If you are interested in learning more about the American Red Cross and possible volunteer opportunities; please, click the link to learn more http://www.redcross.org/

Valentine’s Day is here and while the romantic side of you may be thinking candle lit dinners and chocolate, the Healthcare provider in you is probably thinking that these aren’t the healthiest choices in the world. So here are a few suggestions from GetHealthyU that will appeal to your romantic side and keep your healthcare side happy as well.

1. Give Indoor rock climbing a try.
2. Sign up for a dance class together
3. Bundle up and head outdoors for some skiing, skating, or even some sledding
4. Show off your flexibility with a yoga class
5. Get your bounce on at an indoor trampoline park
6. Get your heart racing by running a race together. Start training now for the spring marathons

To read the full article on these great ideas please click here Not only will you have an unforgettable Valentine’s Day, but you will also be supporting our Institution for HOPE campaign which is heart disease prevention in the month of February. The American Heart Association says that two key factors to maintaining a healthy heart are exercise and healthy eating. So what are you waiting for?  Plan your healthy fun Valentine’s today!

In Honor of Black History Month we’d like to share with you just a few of the incredible African Americans who have helped shape the medical field over the years through their tremendous accomplishments and revolutions to medicine Dr. Ben Carson – Famous for separating conjoined twins in the 1980’s. Dr. Carson went on to pioneer many of the Neurosurgery techniques in the world today.  His life was not easy, he grew up on the inner-city streets of Detroit, but overcame tremendous odds to attend Yale and later become a director of Pediatric Neurosurgery Surgery at one of the most prestigious hospitals in the United States Dr. Charles Drew – Dr. Drew is famous for devising a way to store blood plasma for transfusions during World War II. Without his research there would not have been nearly enough blood to treat those injured in fighting. He was made head of the Red Cross Blood bank for his efforts. Dr. Regina Benjamin – Dr. Benjamin was the first black women to be elected to the Medical Association in the state of Alabama. She was also the first person under 40 to achieve this honor. She also served as the 18^th Surgeon General of the United States under President Barrack Obama. Mary Eliza Mahoney RN – She is known to be the first Black professional nurse in America and had a very successful career. She is also famous for taking the stage at a 1909 nursing conference in Boston in 1909 and calling for healthcare providers to take direct and immediate action to address the inequality between the treatments people of different races were receiving in medicine. Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler – Dr. Crumpler was the first African American woman to earn a medical degree. She devoted her life to helping those in the African American Community. When the Civil War ended she relocated her practice to Richmond, Virginia to address the needs of the newly freed African American population in the south. These of course are just a small handful of the incredible people and contributions that have been made by the African American community to the field of medicine over the years. There are many others who have contributed remarkable innovations that have shaped every aspect of the healthcare field. We hope you take some time to do your own research and find even more American heroes like these to inspire you as you begin your own career in healthcare.

One of the most important skills you will need both as a student and as you begin your professional career is the ability to listen. No matter what course you are taking at the Allen School you will spend a lot of your new career listening to your patients and using what you hear to help them address their health issues. Here are 10 great tips from Forbes Magazine to help you develop great listening skills.

1. Face the speaker and maintain eye contact.
2. Be attentive, but relaxed.
3. Keep an open mind.
4.  Listen to the words and try to picture what the speaker is saying.
5. Don’t interrupt and don’t impose your “solutions.”
6. Wait for the speaker to pause to ask clarifying questions.
7. Ask questions only to ensure understanding.
8. Try to feel what the speaker is feeling.
9. Give the speaker regular feedback.
10. Pay attention to what isn’t said—to nonverbal cues.

To read the full article, please click here. Being listened to is one of the most important things a patient wants when they interact with doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals. Start using these skills in the classroom today and pretty soon you will have a skillset that is highly valued by potential future employers.