Visit our main program page at www.swfc.edu/medical.



Friday, May 21, 2010

Allied Health: An Interview With Program Manager Liz Levine








Mrs. Levine, the Program Manager for our Allied Health Program, discusses the medical programs available here at Southwest Florida. Become part of this explosive industry by contacting us today!

New Bachelor's Degree program in Health Care Administration! The bachelors degree in Health Care Administration will provide students with a foundation of general management skills in health care and health care services such as: finances, public policy, communication, cultural diversity, and organizational behavior. This interdisciplinary degree will enable the student to seek employment in an entry-level position in health care administration or a management training position.


New campus now open in Port Charlotte!Secure industries are a rare thing these days, but with the American population curve aging, the demand for qualified medical practitioners has never been higher.At Southwest Florida College, our medical programs will give you the tools to remain in a rewarding career for many years to come. SWFC Allied Health students can graduate with diplomas in Medical Assistant or Medical Billing & Coding Technology, associate's degrees in Health Information Technology, Medical Assistant or Surgical Technician, or with a bachelor's degree in Health Care Administration.


Unlike other colleges, SWFC provides hands-on experience by allowing students to practice on each other in our Medical Assistant labs rather than only using simulators. This helps students overcome the anxiety that is part of learning a new skill.



Southwest Florida College is an accredited, private institution of higher learning centrally located in Fort Myers, Tampa, Port Charlotte, and includes the Institute of Interior Design located within the Miromar Design Center in Estero. The College has been providing post secondary education to Floridians since 1974 and offers programs in Allied Health, Business, Design, Education, Information Technology and Legal Studies. Its mission is to provide educational opportunities for individuals to acquire knowledge and skills that will help prepare them for rewarding careers in fields with high growth potential. For more information, call toll free 888-279-2342 or visit http://www.swfc.edu/.

DR. INTRESS RECENTLY JOINED THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA COLLEGE PORT CHARLOTTE CAMPUS AS PROGRAM MANAGER



DR. INTRESS RECENTLY JOINED THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA COLLEGE PORT CHARLOTTE CAMPUS AS PROGRAM MANAGER

Port Charlotte, Fla., (January 12, 2010) – A decorated Army veteran and a former Navy operating room technician has agreed to park his RV and join the staff of Southwest Florida College as program manager for its Allied Health program.

Dr. Robert C. Intress, Ph.D. brings a wealth of experience and an impressive background to the Port Charlotte campus of Southwest Florida College.

After retiring four years ago, Dr. Intress said he saw an ad in the paper and he decided to apply. "I am thrilled to have the position. I have observed that the enthusiasm of the faculty and staff at Southwest Florida College to support the students, be available and go the extra mile has been consistent," Dr. Intress said. "Every faculty member, every staff member has the same philosophy."

Dr. Intress, 63, earned a bachelor's degree in community health from the University of Wisconsin, a master's degree in health education from Central Michigan University, another master's degree in educational administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a doctorate in educational administration with a minor in administrative medicine, also from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Back in 1964 at the age of 17, he became what he believes was the youngest operating room technician in the country at St. Joesph’s Hospital in Amarillo, Texas. He then joined the U.S. Navy where he joined the staff at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Newport, R.I. as a operating room technician and was transferred to DaNang, Vietnam as a Corp men with the Marine Corp. Subsequent posts included one of the first surgical physician's assistants, acting executive director for Marshfield Medical Research Foundation, executive director for National Farm Medicine Center, and a faculty member at Central Michigan University, Union Graduate School, Cardinal Stritch College, and Milton College. Dr. Intress has also been chief executive officer at Indiana Heart Physicians, Inc.

More recently, Dr. Intress started Physician Partners Group to manage physician practices in 2001 with himself as the first and sole employee. Four years ago, he sold the firm – it had 400 employees and scores of clients.

In addition to his business acumen and academic leadership, Dr. Intress also has a distinguished service record. He retired as Lt. Col. in the U.S. Army after 24 years of service. He received the Army Commendation Medal in 1984, the service's Humanitarian Award in 1981, the Army Commendation Award in 1978, the Vietnam Campaign Medal in 1970, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry in 1970, and Combat Action Award in 1970.

Community and civic honors have been plentiful. Recognitions and awards include Outstanding Volunteer Award in 1991 by the American Heart Association, Outstanding Civilian Physician Assistant Award in 1990 by the American Academy of Physicians Assistants, the American Heart Association of Wisconsin Service Award in 1988 and the Wisconsin Community Education Association Recognition Award in 1987, among others.

Dr. Intress has served as president for the City of Marshfield, Wisc. Board of Education from 1978 to 1987 and has written numerous publications, worked on several special projects including as a consultant for the National Board of Medical Examiners Re-certification Test Committee and as a member of the Wisconsin National Science Foundation Task Force, to name a few. He is formerly a member of the Medical Group Management Association and the American Academy of Physicians' Assistants and was previously a vice chairman of the National Commission on Certification of Physicians' Assistants.

In his free time, Dr. Intress enjoys taking RV trips and likes to swim, walk and play a little tennis.

His goal in his new position is to support his students and do all he can to make them successful. "There is a lot of opportunity in the health care delivery system with the aging population and I hope to be able to provide educational opportunities in new health care disciplines," Dr. Intress said.

Southwest Florida College is an accredited, private, institution of higher learning centrally located in Fort Myers, Tampa, Port Charlotte, and includes the Institute of Interior Design located within the Miromar Design Center in Estero. The College offers programs in Health Care, Business, Design, Education, Information Technology and Legal Studies. Its mission is to provide educational opportunities for individuals to acquire knowledge and skills that will help prepare them for rewarding careers in fields with high growth potential. For more information, call toll free 888-526-7973 or visit http://www.swfc.edu/.