(HARLINGEN) – The graduating class from Texas State Technical College Health Information Technology recently presented to the Rio Grande Valley Health Information Management Association (RGVHIMA) at Knapp Medical Center in Weslaco.

At least 15 students make up the class who will graduate next month and who worked diligently for the past two months to prepare and complete their presentation that focuses on the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management, the organization that accredits TSTC’s program, and the Registered Health Information Technician national exam and certification.

“I’m so proud and honored to call myself these students’ instructor,” said TSTC Health Information Instructor Ana Gonzales. “They have worked so hard to be where they are today and I know they all have bright futures ahead.”

Gonzales said these presentations were first started six years ago as a way to bring the students together, teach them skills important for their future such as communication, research and management and to give the students the opportunity to network with industry professionals.

“The people they are meeting and presenting to are the people who will hire them when they graduate,” said Gonzales. “It’s important that we showcase their skills and capabilities and introduce them to an organization that they will become members of and will be their guidance once out in the field.”

Health Information Technology student and class facilitator Ruth Trevino said their goal as a class is to spread awareness on the various certifications that can be obtained as a professional in the health information and records industry and said they have worked hard at researching and ensuring that they present the best information possible.

“This is a topic that is very important to most, if not all of us,” said Trevino. “In doing our research we found that many graduate from a health information program, but never take their national certifying exam and we’re trying to change that. It can be a career changer.”

Trevino added that becoming a Registered Health Information Technician makes someone more marketable in a competitive market and can lead to higher salaries in the long run.

“It’s never too late to take this exam or go back to school,” she added. “If anything, I hope this is what people took away from our presentation.”

Melissa Perez, also a TSTC Health Information Technology student said they also wanted to spread awareness about TSTC’s program and what it has to offer.

“A degree or certification can take someone’s career to the next level,” she said. “Maybe someone has been thinking of returning to school or has a family member interested in the field, we want them to know that TSTC is here to help them.”

For more information on Health Information Technology at TSTC visit, tstc.edu. The program is also now offered 100 percent online.