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President Jean Gonzalez of South Coast College indicated that it used to be that the majority of the students in the court reporting came from recommendations from court reporting alumni.  Now, it seems to be across the board in all programs — Medical Assisting, Medical Transcription, Paralegal Studies, and Legal Administative Assistant.

It used to also that the court reporting students would just recommend their family and friends to the court reporting program.  Now, students from one program recommends family and friends to their program and other programs. 

President Jean Gonzalez said that one reason is that all the programs are recognized as being excellent programs, thanks to the stability of the teaching staff in each program and the directors in the respective programs.  Ramy Seang, Director of Medical Programs, has done an excellent job of creating an outstanding Medical Assisting Program.  Janet James, instructor, and Dr. Florente R. Velasco have created an exceptional medical transcription program that boasts a zero drop out rate consistently and a 100 percent placement rate consistently.  Janet James, BA, FHIA, ART, is currently Health Information Manager at UCI Irvine and has brought her expertise in that area to the program.  Dr. Velasco has been a medical doctor for many years and shares his expertise with students.

William Dixon, J.D., Director of the Legal Programs, worked for over 20 years at Western State College of Law in both teaching and administrative positions.  His contacts in the legal field have resulted in such excellent instructors as the following:  Thomas Lo, J.D., Orange County Public Defender; Kathryn Terry, J.D., BSED, one of the foremost immigration attorneys in Orange County; David Manzer, J.D., an attorney who has his own law practice; Emily Cruz, J.D. and A.A. in Paralegal Studies, who knows the law from both the procedural and substantive aspects.

Medical Transcriptionist, Stacey Hyman, was hired by Cheryl Armstrong Transcription, Inc.  Stacey received high marks in her externship.  Her externship supervisor indicated that she was productive from the first day.  Thanks to Cheryl Armonstrong for hiring South Coast College graduates.   She has hired several of our graduates.  Thanks again, Cheryl.

Medical Assistant graduate, Jonathan Knight, was hired as a Lab Assistant in the Medical Department of South Coast College.  Jonathan recently graduated from South Coast College with special honors.  He helped the Medical Director, Ramy Seang, all summer.  The decision to hire Jonathan result from two factors — the growth of the program warranted a laboratory assistant and the fact that Jonathan is an asset to any employer.  He is conscientious, professional, and caring.  Jonathan will also be going into the nursing program in September.

President Jean Gonzalez commented on the continuing trend of college graduates entering the various programs at South Coast College.  She noted that the career of Medical Assisting is a quick way for someone with a degree to become employable where there is a chance for upward mobility in a relatively short period of time.  In nine short months, a graduate is ready to enter the medical field.  Having a degree is a plus!

Medical Transcription is another area where graduates with degrees can apply their knowledge and skills.  The Medical Transcription Program is growing as a result of people holding degrees wishing to enter the medical field in other than patient care.  Some of the people attracted are nurses or other health-care professionals who wish to utilize their knowledge of the medical area in a different way.  The strength of the program at South Coast College is the result of having Janet James, Medical Records Director at UCI, directing the transcription portion of the program and having a medical doctor, Dr. Velasco, teaching the medical-related subjects.  Christine Nakamura, a recent graduate in Medical Transcription, hired by St. Mary’s in Long Beach, indicated that although she had a degree, she needed to have the skills that she achieved at South Coast College to become employable.

A number of the college graduates who have entered the Paralegal Program at South Coast College have told President Gonzalez that it was one of the best career choices that they ever made.  The Paralegal Program is an excellent choice for graduates with degrees in English, sociology, psychology, political science, criminology, history — just to name a few areas.

The Court Reporting Program continues to attract degree holders.  Kitri, a new court reporting student, is a graduate of University of California at Santa Barbara.  She indicated that her degree is in political science, which first led her into becoming a police officer.  She indicated that she wished that she had known about the career of court reporting earlier.

A popular trend at South Coast College is that more students who already have degrees from colleges and universities are enrolling in the programs.  A common response from students when asked why they are going into the court reporting, paralegal, medical transcription, or medical assisting programs are that they either could not get jobs in their fields of study or that they did not want to go into the field that they had initially prepared to enter.

One of the fields that students prepared for is criminal justice.  Andrea Rinker, CSR, said that she enjoyed the study of that field but did not wish to work in it.  The transition to court reporting with her B.A. in Criminal Justice was a natural.  She completed the court reporting program in less than two years and is now working as a deposition reporter.  She also recommended the program to her friend, Christine Polek, who also has the same degree.  She is now attending South Coast College.

Michelle Siazon chose the Medical Transcription as a way to complement her BA degree from Cal State University, Long Beach as did Christine Nakamura, who has a BA degree from UC Riverside. 

Bonifa Baranyai Chavis chose the Paralegal Program as a way to complement her BA degree from Bennett College.

Allyson Brocoff obtained her degree in Health Sciences and then chose to follow in the footsteps of her mother, who is a court reporter. 

Court Reporting/Medical Transcription.  Debra Pons, CSR, started her journey at South Coast College in Orange County by receiving an AAS degree in Medical Transcription.  She later returned to South Coast College to become a Certified Shorthand Reporter.  Debra is quite versatile.  She currently works as a captioner and as a deposition reporter who is capable of reporting medical depositions.  Thanks for stopping by, Debra, to let us know what you are doing.

Medical Transcription Program Award Winner.  Ms. Vicki Hickson, recent graduate from South Coast College in Orange, delivered a speech in which she thanked Mr. Joseph Burt, her English professor, and Ms. Janet James, her medical transcription instructor, for their great instruction.  Vicki and two other of the graduates from her class were immediately employed by the place where they did their externships.  Congratulations, Vicki!

Medical Transcription Program.  Ann Sansoucie, Vicki Hickson, and Patricia Harvey all graduated with AAS degrees in Medical Transcription from South Coast College in Orange.   All three graduates with honors.  Vicki Hickson received a special award for the highest grade point average.

Medical Transcription Student at South Coast College in Orange.  Ann Sansoucie is a medical transcription student who is completing her internship at South Coast College and will soon begin her externship.

Why did you choose medical transcription as a career?

I thought it was interesting, and I liked the medical field.  Also, I worked in my current job for 20 years, and I wanted to learn something new.

Why did you choose South Coast College in Orange?

I actually started the program in court reporting to learn the court reporting machine.  When I finish the program, I want to use my court reporting machine for medical transcription purposes.

Another reason is that the school is close to my home.

What makes the college different from other colleges that you attended?

The degree of help that I receive.  If I need help, there is always someone there to answer my questions.

What surprised you most about Medical Transcription?

I was surprised at how much it entailed.  The scope was broader than I had thought it would be.  I can’t imagine going into the field without the depth of knowledge that I learned about medical procedures, techniques, and so on.

What courses did you enjoy most at South Coast College in Orange?

All my academic courses were enjoyable — anatomy and physiology, surgical instruments, pharmacology, human diseases.

How do you intend to use your skills?

I intend to start by working in a transcription agency, but ultimately I would like to be employed in a hospital.

Where will your externship be?

The Medical Programs Director found me an externship on Chapman Avenue near Brookhurst in Garden Grove.  I am looking forward to doing it.