STCC graduate returns to apply his acting skills to help health students

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – At his job at Springfield Technical Community College, Deveir Cockett ’14 applies his degree from STCC in Digital Media Production Technology as well as his passion for acting to help students studying in a variety of health care disciplines, from nursing to respiratory care, to occupational therapy and more.

Sometimes Cockett acts out the part of a patient and lies in a bed located inside a bay at the SIMS Medical Center, which is the facility in Building 20 at STCC designed to reflect actual hospital scenarios. For example, he might act out the part of a patient needing the help of a physical therapist assistant. In that scenario, students from the college’s PTA program stand at his side, helping him flex his limbs.

Other times Cockett might be in an unseen control room providing the voice of a patient simulator that is lying in a hospital bay’s bed. Simulators are lifelike robotic patients that students use for training. From the hidden room, Cockett voices the robotic patients, injecting emotion and reality into his dialogue with students. The simulators are given diverse backgrounds to reflect the various scenarios medical professionals face in the real world.

Cockett’s title is simulation specialist II. His job allows him to learn about people and the diversity of the world. Cockett does his research to make sure he gets the details correct of any given patient.

“We collaborate with the professors,” Cockett said. “I might need to learn about a patient’s dietary restrictions based on their religion. There are some patients who can’t do a blood transfusion because of their religion.”

Cockett has even acted out the part of a patient simulator giving birth. For his research, he spoke with several STCC employees who are mothers who have experienced labor.  “Always, their response is, ‘You are never polite in those rooms. You’re screaming. You’re yelling. You’re in a lot of pain,’” Cockett said.

(Deveir Cockett) is a creative and driven individual who brings empathy to his work, which is a vitally important skill for health professionals to establish trust with patients. Christopher Scott, Dean, School of Health and Patient Simulation

Christopher Scott, the dean of the School of Health and Patient Simulation, hired Cockett after seeing him act out a scenario during the 2019 Health Careers Exploration Night, an annual open house event to showcase the health programs.

Acting in front of attendees at the open house, Cockett played the part of a worried family member of a patient simulator.

“I wanted to show them my skills so they would call me back again,” Cockett said. “There were high school students and potential students all around the area seeing what was going on. The dean saw people’s reactions to how I was acting.”

At the end of the event, Scott offered him the job. The dean said he was impressed with Cockett’s skills and eagerness to learn.

“I’m proud to have Deveir as a part of the simulation team. He is a creative and driven individual who brings empathy to his work, which is a vitally important skill for health professionals to establish trust with patients,” Scott said.

Cockett has in a way come full circle since graduating in 2014 from the STCC Digital Media Production Technology program. He learned to use cameras and edit while he was an STCC student. The program also allowed him to hone his acting chops as a TV news anchor. He learned to write journalistically – skills that come in handy as a patient simulation specialist at STCC.

“I chose to go to STCC because it was close to home and affordable,” he said. “I could search out what I wanted to do in life while I was here.”

Born in Jamaica, Cockett and his family moved to the United States in 1994 and settled in Springfield when he was around 12 years old. He graduated from Springfield Central High School.

After earning a degree from STCC, he found an internship doing video editing. He then went on to record amateur mixed martial arts fights in Springfield. He applied his TV anchor skills while interviewing fighters on camera.

He put the camera down to find a steady job doing solar panel installations. But he dreamed of writing for the movie industry. He went to the New York Film Academy, where he took a screenwriting program. He left the program with two drafts of a movie script and television pilot. A writing professor suggested he try acting to become a better screenwriter.

Back in Western Massachusetts he performed in plays. He emailed Phil O’Donoghue, a professor of English and theater at STCC who directs the STCC College Theatre Workshop.

O’Donoghue suggested to Cockett that he check with Dean Scott about acting at Health Careers Exploration Night.

After Scott offered him the job, Cockett jumped into the work of acting out scenarios in the School of Health and Patient Simulation.

“I wanted to do anything and everything that involved acting,” Cockett said. “When he offered me the job, I thought I could get paid for this, which was terrific!”

Cockett stressed the importance of networking and finding connections, which is what led him back to STCC to find a job he loves. He said he was grateful to O’Donoghue for connecting him with the school’s dean.

“If I never looked for help or guidance or mentorship, I would never be where I am today,” he said. “Don’t be afraid to ask people for guidance.”

Interested in applying to STCC? Visit stcc.edu/apply or call Admissions at (413) 755-3333.

About Springfield Technical Community College

STCC, the Commonwealth's only technical community college, continues the pioneering legacy of the Springfield Armory with comprehensive and technical education in manufacturing, STEM, healthcare, business, social services, and the liberal arts. STCC's highly regarded workforce, certificate, degree, and transfer programs are the most affordable in Springfield and provide unequaled opportunity for the vitality of Western Massachusetts. Founded in 1967, the college – a designated Hispanic Serving Institution – seeks to close achievement gaps among students who traditionally face societal barriers. STCC supports students as they transform their lives through intellectual, cultural, and economic engagement while becoming thoughtful, committed and socially responsible graduates.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu

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