We continue to celebrate the the significant impact of Career and Technical Education on individual lives and our community at large. This week, we are shining the spotlight on Melanie Womack and Health Sciences at Western Harnett High School.
Students in Mrs. Womack’s Honors Pharmacy Tech program demonstrated how to make diaper rash cream. These scholars are required to maintain a 3.0 GPA, and upon completion of the program, they will be eligible to take the licensure exam to become certified pharmacy technicians! This program is only one of the many offerings the in Health Sciences pathway at Harnett County Schools.
Maryah Kerley is a senior, and a member of HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America). She has been taking Health Science classes since her freshman year, and dreams of becoming a pediatrician. She says that her desire for a career in the medical field was influenced by her father and her sister. Sadly, Maryah’s father passed away due to complications from diabetes, at only 38 years old. Her sister has three children; witnessing their birth, growth, and development continues to inspire her to become a doctor. Her love and desire to care for her family has led her to focus on early detection, intervention, and disease management. She said, “Because of them, I knew what I wanted to do, but taking health sciences has helped me narrow down which path to take”.
Mrs. Womack is a registered nurse who has been working in the medical field for over 10 years. For the past 4 years, she has been serving Harnett County Schools teaching Health Sciences at Western Harnett High School. She has always enjoyed teaching peers and patients. She decided to shift her focus on teaching children. What she finds most rewarding is “seeing the kids excited about learning. Learning about health, medicine, and becoming more knowledgeable about their own bodies”. Some teens have shared with her that since learning about the health risks, many have made significant lifestyle changes: like not smoking/vaping, eating better, and working out.
Health Science classes allow students to satisfy their curiosity about medicine and to explore careers in healthcare. Aside from technical knowledge and skills, Mrs. Womack promotes compassion, ethical practice and patient advocacy in her classes. She is proud to take part in potentially alleviating the healthcare worker shortage and inspiring learners to become medical professionals and leaders in their field.
#WeAreHarnett #InspiringLearnersToBeLeaders #SuccessWithHCS #CTEMonth #CareerReadiness #SkillUp #HandsOnLearning #FutureReady