STCC names Dean of the School of Health & Patient Simulation
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) is pleased to announce the hiring of Christopher Scott as the Dean of the School of Health & Patient Simulation.
Scott, of Feeding Hills, had been the interim dean since the retirement of Michael Foss in 2016. His previous positions at STCC include assistant dean for the School of Health & Patient Simulation and director of clinical education and SIMS Medical Center.
Dean Christopher Scott
“Chris Scott is the perfect choice. He has demonstrated that he will uphold the standards of excellence for our programs that have made our graduates so sought after by employers, while making sure STCC remains on the forefront of innovative health care education,” said Dr. Arlene Rodriguez, Vice President of Academic Affairs at STCC. “He’s truly a visionary leader.”
Scott will lead a school that offers the most competitive programs at STCC and is home to the Northeast’s largest patient simulation training facility. The SIMS Medical Center at STCC provides a clinical setting to train students as well as healthcare providers.
Scott played a key role in expanding the facility when he was hired as director in 2010. At the time, the Medical Center included 18 patient simulators and five rooms and provided 3,000 simulation experiences each year. Today, there are 52 simulators and 12 rooms, or simulation areas, and more than 20,000 simulation experiences.
As dean, he is responsible for the overall leadership of the school as well as for the daily and long-term operation of all the credit and non-credit health programs. About 800 students are enrolled in credit and noncredit programs. The school includes more than 100 full-time and part-time faculty and staff.
Scott sees his mission as helping to meet the community’s health care needs and ensuring access to the degree and certificate programs, which include Cosmetology, Dental Assistant, Dental Hygiene, Diagnostic Medical Imaging, Interdisciplinary Health Studies, Medical Assistant, Medical Laboratory Technician, Nursing, Rehabilitation Therapies, Respiratory Care, and Surgical Technology.
“We want to make sure that our community understands what health programs are offered at STCC, and we want to ensure that we set our community up for success to enroll and graduate from our health programs,” Scott said. “We’re really about community engagement.”
Scott, who holds a Master of Education in Health Education and Curriculum Development from Springfield College, is currently completing his Doctorate of Education in Higher Education Administration from Northeastern University in Boston.
A certified healthcare simulation educator, Scott earned his Bachelor of Science in Emergency Medical Services Management from Springfield College.
Prior to joining STCC in 2010, Scott worked as Senior Education Services Specialist at Laerdal Medical Corp., in Wappinger Falls, N.Y. He also worked as EMS Coordinator/Director, Emergency Medical Services Education, at Mercy Medical Center in Springfield; as Adjunct Faculty, Emergency Medical Services Degree Program, Capital Community College in Hartford, Conn.; and as Assistant Professor/Paramedic Program Director, Emergency Medical Services Management Degree Program, Springfield College.
About Springfield Technical Community College
Founded in 1967 and located on 35 acres of the Springfield Armory National Historic Site, STCC is a major resource for the economic vitality of Western Massachusetts. As the only technical community college in Massachusetts, STCC, an Achieving the Dream Leader College, offers a variety of career programs unequalled in the state. STCC’s highly regarded transfer programs in business, engineering, liberal arts, science and technology continue to provide the most economical options for students pursuing a four-year degree. With an annual enrollment of more than 8,500 day, evening, weekend and online students, STCC is a vibrant campus rich in diversity.
For more information about STCC, visit www.stcc.edu. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@S_T_C_C).
Media Contact:
Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu