Congresswoman Miller Impressed with Southern’s Expansion Efforts

Mount Gay, W.Va. — U.S. Congresswoman Carol Miller’s (R-W.Va.) got an up close and personal look at higher education’s attempt to provide more nurses during a statewide shortage.

Miller’s district would change in the upcoming year if she is re-elected due to redistricting. She said it’s important to her to visit these new areas to see the progress and needs of those living there.

Miller visited Southern WV Community & Technical College’s Logan campus on Tuesday, August 2nd to meet with Southern’s President Dr. Pamela L. Alderman, Allied Health faculty, and staff less than two weeks before the start of classes.

“We have been in the midst of a major renovation,” Shirley Dardi, Southern’s Nursing Director said. “We have spent the entire summer upgrading our classrooms, facilities, and technology to expand our Nursing program.”

The expansion will include an accelerated path for medical professionals to become registered nurses with a newly developed weekend program.

Miller said she was impressed with what Southern is doing to address this shortage.

Miller toured the Nursing Department with Dr. Alderman and other staff, but she also visited multiple classrooms and labs, including Surgical Technology, Radiologic Technology, Medical Laboratory, and the EMT classroom.

Director of Emergency Management and instructor Mike Smith explained how he trains students in his classroom on how to address real-life situations. Miller was taken into a simulated ambulance and shown how Southern’s vehicle has everything that’s included in a working emergency vehicle.

Miller also met with Jeff Trout, Southern’s CDL Instructor, who had brought one of his CDL trucks over from the Williamson campus. Miller looked at the truck from inside the building’s lobby as Trout explained his program to Miller and told her about the achievements of his first class.

“This is wonderful,” she said. “These are the kind of opportunities our residents need to have access to.”

Miller had limited time on campus but told Dr. Alderman that she would like to come back and see more.