Youngstown News
Campus News & Events
New Beginnings
For thirty years, Debbie Love (pictured sitting on the right) was long haul truck driver, but she recently decided to start a new career path. After some research for available career training in the area, Debbie decided to attend the Youngstown Campus in the Health Information Technology degree program.
She is the first in her family to go to college and she is almost finished! She is now doing an externship in the medical records department at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Youngstown. She is getting hands-on experience with chart prepping, scanning, imaging and coding. She is involved in outpatient and inpatient coding and enjoys the investigative aspect of this work. She is thrilled to be putting her book knowledge to practical use.
While going to school, Debbie drove a truck for Toys R Us between the warehouse and stores, about 250 miles a day round trip. She worked about 50 hours a week and took 3 classes at night. In addition to her coursework, Debbie joined a professional society; took billing specialist training; and took the certification exams for medical coding as well as billing specialist. Her dedication and perseverance make her a role model to others.
Gina Augustine (pictured standing), Director of the Health Information Technology program, said that Debbie exemplifies the qualities of a great student and said that she has incredible initiative. Debbie appreciates her instructors and said, "Miss Gina [Augustine] is the heart and soul of the HIT program." She is looking forward to a new career that is not behind a steering wheel.
