March is National Women’s History Month. EASTERN is celebrating by spotlighting several of our successful female students and alum. Today’s alum spotlight features Betsy Herczeg, a 2022 EASTERN Allied Health/Springfield Township High School graduate, who is continuing her education in nursing at Thomas Jefferson University.
National Women’s History Month reminds Betsy of all the women throughout history who have advocated for equality in our country. “It makes me think of how fortunate I am to have the opportunity to pursue higher education and prepare for a profession I am passionate about,” said Betsy.
Betsy chose Thomas Jefferson University because it is a large and well-known healthcare system, and she felt this would be a good opportunity to stay within the Jefferson system after graduation. “I like how my program is split between two campuses - the East Falls campus for the first two years, which is more suburban, and Center City for the last two years. Both campuses are very close to home, which is also important to me.”
Before attending EASTERN, Betsy was leaning towards becoming a nurse but had some reservations. “The COVID-19 pandemic initially scared me away from the profession due to the nature of the disease and the stress healthcare workers were experiencing,” said Betsy. “By enrolling in the Allied Health program, I better understood a nurse’s role in patient care and the various specialties that I could pursue.”
Betsy’s parents are her greatest inspiration. “They always encourage me to pursue my passions and go after my dreams,” said Betsy. “My father and mother always find ways to support me in every phase of my life, and I am very grateful to have them both in my life!”
After graduating from Jefferson, she wants to gain experience by working as a travel nurse. “This career would allow me to travel to new places while working in different specialties and treating various kinds of patients,” said Betsy. She hopes to work as an Emergency Room Nurse, but she is keeping an open mind as she continues her education.
The Allied Health one-year program is designed for students with rigorous academic preparation who plan to continue their education in college to prepare for a healthcare career. Students have the opportunity to explore careers in the healthcare field through job shadowing, guest speakers, and facility tours. This program offers the potential of earning college credits at Montgomery County Community College at a reduced tuition rate.
