Each year Onondaga Community College recognizes distinguished graduates who have made a difference in their community and professional life, naming them "Alumni Faces" honorees. On the night of Wednesday, October 6 at 5:30 p.m. in the Frederick Marvin and Ernst Schuh Recital Hall, we will pay tribute to the Alumni Faces Class of 2021. In the weeks leading up to the event we are proudly profiling our honorees on our website and social media. Today we recognize Carolyn Hastings, '94.
Carolyn Hastings took a chance she would find her passion at Onondaga Community College and that chance paid off. Today she is the Assistant Vice President for Health Information Management and Coding at Albany Medical Center, and is President of the New York Health Information Management Association. "I've come a long way and have had the ability to work in several reputable health care facilities throughout the U.S. in upper-level management positions. I am blessed to have OCC as my beginning!"
Nearly a decade after graduating from Canastota High School, Hastings decided to give OCC a try. "As an adult learner, OCC provided me the opportunity to easily juggle my work schedule, family life, and course work."
Hastings chose OCC's Health Information Technology program where students learned how to use current information systems to collect, analyze, disseminate, and maintain patient data. Students were also instructed in how to understand medical information through coursework in anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology.
The Health Information Technology professors played a significant role in her success. "The instructors worked in the profession. The experiences they shared were very inspirational. I immediately knew I wanted to further my career in this."
She also found a camaraderie among fellow students which enriched her experience. "I met many great people in class who became employed in the industry. It allowed for networking, potential job opportunities, and to meet other colleagues in the profession. It was a fantastic experience!"
After completing her work at OCC in 1994, Hastings continued her education. She earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration at Walden University, and a Master's in Healthcare Administration at Ohio University.
You can see Hastings and the rest of the 2021 Alumni Faces class honored on the night of Wednesday, October 6 at 5:30 p.m. The ceremony will be live streamed on OCC's YouTube channel and Facebook page.
