EDUCATION MANAGEMENT CORPORATION Carol Lee Jarrell Department Chair, Medical Assisting Brown Mackie College - Merrillville Merrillville, Indiana
BROWN MACKIE COLLEGE Life changing: Carol Jerrell has been on both the giving and receiving end of lifesaving medical care. Three years ago, Carol was diagnosed with breast cancer, which she confronted with the same steadfast optimism she’s modeled to her students through their life trials and detours. “We all have situations in our lives that require us to rise above,” she says. “I couldn’t have made it through without my students. They kept me focused on the everyday and normal, rather than on myself.” Last year, Carol was named Volunteer of the Year by the American Cancer Society for her efforts in organizing Brown Mackie College - Merrillville volunteers in support of the Relay for Life, a 24-hour fund-raising event. She recalls a favorite moment from the annual event, when luminaria bags, decorated to honor loved ones, are set along the track and the stadium lights go dark. “Standing there, you really feel the outpouring of compassion,” Carol says. “I’m reminded of the strong desire to help others that draws me and my students to the medical field.” Keeping pace: In a field as rapidly changing as healthcare, the teacher must remain a lifelong student. Carol’s vitae of continuing education training runs the gamut, from allergies and bacterial resistance issues to medical malpractice and HIPPA. “I do it all for the students,” she says. “I can’t just talk the talk. I have to demonstrate a commitment to providing the best possible patient care. They will do as I do as a medical professional, not what I say.” Carol recognizes medical offices will continue to evolve, spurred by new technology, treatment protocols and the growing role of information in patient diagnosis and care. “Every aspect of medical care is growing more complex,” she says. As such things as genetics and family history become more integrated into care, and as research reaches the bedside more quickly, all members of the care team will need to respond. Brown Mackie College schools pride themselves on a change-oriented approach to curriculum, giving students the most timely information and exposure to new technology and treatment methods. Brown Mackie College offers training in a full range of health science specialties including Gerontology, Occupational and Physical Therapy, Nursing and Surgical Technology. “Carol traces her instinct for teaching to her toddler years. She recalls gathering her plush animals for a daily lesson in hygiene, using soap on a mirror to substitute for chalk and blackboard. “The urge to teach has been a part of me for as long as I can remember.” CAROL JERRELL ■ ”Carol is determined to be a positive role model for her students. She will not allow you to give in to negative thinking. Her attitude makes the difference. You come away thinking, ‘yes, I can do this.’ MICHELLE WINKLER” FINDING YOUR WAY – MAKING YOUR MARK • 2005 • P11
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