2012

Thomas chosen ECCC Dean of From press reports Denita Thomas of Noxapater recently

"I have enjoyed all of my nursing opportuni– ties," Thomas said. "Since becoming a reg– istered nurse 15 years ago, I have worked in areas of home health and mental health. As a family practitioner since 2007, I have ex– perience in areas of pe– diatrics, hospice and education. I enjoy working with patients and students." Now that she is serv– ing as healthcare dean, Thomas said she plans to continue the tradi– tion of excellence in the healthcare pro– grams at East Central. "We are committed to the preparation of stu– dents to meet the healthcare needs of the community in a knowl– edgeable, caring and professional manner." In addition to Associ– ate Degree Nursing, East Central offers Practical Nursing,

Surgical Technology and EMT-Paramedic Technology. Thomas holds the bachelor and master's degrees in nursing from the University of Southern Mississippi. She recently completed the Mississippi Com– munity College Lead– ership Academy in Jackson. She received a NISOD (National In– stitute for Staff and Organizational Devel– opment) Excellence Award in 2011-12. She is a member of the Pulmonary Hyper– tension Association, Phi Kappa Phi Hon– orary Society, Sigma Sigma Theta Tau In– ternational Honor So– ciety of Nursing, Mississippi Nurses As– sociation and Ameri-

Year in 2011-12, was a member of the Col– lege's first class of ADN graduates in 1996. She said it is with "great pride" that her path in life has led her to return as an in– structor and now Dean of Healthcare Educa– tion. In addition to serv– ing as an.ADN instruc– tor at ECCC, Thomas works as a family prac– titioner with Quality Hospice in Philadel– phia. Prior to her employ– ment at the College in 2008, Thomas served a · a family nurse prac– titioner with Neshoba Pediatric Medical Clinic in Philadelphia. She began her nursing career in 1996 with Magna Home Health of Philadelphia and continued at Louisville Group Hames-Hud- speth Center of Louisville.

began her new duties as Dean of Healthcare Education at East Central Community College in Decatur. Prior to her selection to the administrative position, Thomas served the past four vears as a member of the College's Associate Degree Nur~ing fac– ulty, where her duties included teaching in the cla::.sroom, uper– vising students in the hospital setting, a::.– sisting students with learning in the skills lab, advising students, serving as coordinator for the LPN to RN Bridge program, and coordinating and teaching students in the simulation lab. Thomas, who was se– lected ECCC's Aca– demic Instructor of the

Healthcare Education can Nurses Associa– tion. She also holds mem-

APPEAREO IN:

bership in ECCC's Alumm and Faculty

: MOCRAT ___ _._ __ .TV TIMES ------ )UNTY JOURNAL " -~- OGER ______________

CARTHAGINIAN as ociations. ':'!lomas is married to NEWTON COUNTY APPEASergeant Major John Thomas and they have SPIRIT OF MORTON two children: Alex, a 2012 ECCC graduate

MERIDIAN STAR

now attending the Uni– versitv of Southern Mississippi; and Adam, a sixth-grader at Winston Academy.

Thomas