Special to Iredell Free News

Mitchell Community College and Piedmont HealthCare have forged a new partnership through the college’s Apprenticeship Iredell program.

Established in fall 2020, Apprentice Iredell is a work-based learning opportunity with the goal of developing highly skilled workers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) related fields. The program provides an opportunity for Mitchell students to be hired by an industry partner to acquire on-the-job training while simultaneously receiving classroom instruction from the college.

CEO Jeff Smith and Director of Operations and Human Resources Jeff Taylor were present to represent Piedmont HealthCare, one of the largest physician-owned multi-specialty groups in North Carolina and the Southeast. President Dr. Tim Brewer represented Mitchell Community College.

“Piedmont HealthCare is excited to provide the first healthcare apprenticeship program in our area,” Taylor said. “Our partnership with Mitchell Community College and Iredell-Statesville Schools provides students with the opportunity for free tuition, real-world job experience, and a successful career in healthcare.”

Within the Apprenticeship Iredell program, Piedmont HealthCare will provide five occupational opportunities to interested students, including medical assistant, front desk coordinator, business services representative, registered nurse resident, and phlebotomist. One of these opportunities combined with the college’s medical assisting diploma, healthcare management certificate or degree, nursing degree, or phlebotomist course will serve as the related instruction needed.

“On behalf of Mitchell Community College and the apprenticeship program, we would like to welcome Piedmont HealthCare to the Mitchell family,” Hannah Tuthill, apprenticeship coordinator, said of the new partnership. “I look forward to the opportunities that this partnership will provide for both our students and community.”