Southwest Tech Spotlight: Derek McCall
Southwest Tech Spotlight: Derek McCall
“The Health Science programs are built so you can start your career the day after you graduate.”
When thinking about this future plans, Derek McCall knew he really enjoyed his chemistry classes, but didn’t know if he wanted to work in science or medicine.
“I went to four-year college first, but I felt like it was geared toward the history of the science rather than the actual use of it. The same went for the labs; they weren’t giving me paths or ideas of how I could actually put chemistry towards a career.
Derek decided to take a break from college, gather his thoughts, and refocus. It was Derek’s father, Tom, who was finishing his Associate Degree in Nursing a Southwest Tech that told him about the new Medical Laboratory Technician program the College started.
Derek explained, “The program was lab-based, in a healthcare field, and fit my fascination of working in a lab environment. I started the program that fall, and within the first week, I knew it was the field for me. I’m helping people even if it’s not directly, which kind of makes medical lab techs the unsung heroes in healthcare.”