As part of our Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area (NRSA) initiative, the WESCDC launched a new phlebotomy training program for neighborhood residents. In response to an ongoing need in the healthcare field for trained phlebotomists, we envisioned the program as offering local individuals an opportunity for personal and professional growth.

The eight-week course, which lead to certification, included 30 hours of classroom instruction as well as a 120-hour externship within the UMass Memorial Healthcare system, the CDC’s partner in this innovative job training program. The course, which was offered to East Side residents tuition-free as part of the CDC’s NRSA program, was held in November and again in January.  Sixteen individuals successfully completed the certification program.