Massage Therapy Program manager leads his program to national recognition

Massage Therapy Program manager leads his program to national recognition

Brent Jackson’s diligence in developing the Massage Therapy Program at Central Carolina Technical College during the past 3½ years has garnered the program national attention in two industry publications this month, and this May, massage educators from across the country will attend a seminar led by Jackson at CCTC’s Health Sciences Center to learn how to start a hospital-based massage therapy program.
CCTC’s Massage Therapy Program is one of only three massage therapy programs nationwide implementing automated simulation mannequins and it is one of six massage therapy programs nationwide known to implement hospital-based massage therapy – with more medical clinical sites and inpatient floors than any other massage school in the nation.
“Massage therapy is not just for spas any longer. With the introduction of massage therapy students into hospital settings for clinical experiences, Brent Jackson has brought a new dimension to the profession of massage therapy,” said Miriam Laney, Dean of Health Sciences. “He is on the cutting-edge of his profession.”
Jackson’s efforts to put CCTC’s Massage Therapy Program at the front of the learning curve captured the attention of the American Massage Therapy Association, which published a full-length profile on Jackson and CCTC’s Massage Therapy Program in its March 5 issue of “Hands On.” (Read the article here: https://www.amtamassage.org/articles/5/HandsOn/detail/3137)  “I feel honored that out of their 60,000 members, I was nominated and selected to be featured along with our program,” said Jackson, who also will have his article, “The Changing Face of Massage Education” about hospital-based massage therapy published March 15 in “Massage & Fitness Magazine.”
“I feel very fortunate to be a part of what I consider one of the best massage therapy programs and colleges in the nation,” said Jackson, who has been recognized with the Miller Communications “Excellence in Education” award this month. He will be a special guest with CCTC’s President Dr. Tim Hardee in honor of his recognition on WDXY’s “Good Morning Sumter” with Derek Burress from 8:15 to 8:30 a.m., Monday, March 16.
The May 22 seminar for massage therapy colleges/programs will bring educators from across the U.S. together to learn how to present professional standards and requirements for hospital-based training. Jackson, who serves on the National Massage Therapy Teacher Standards Committee, will share curriculum design strategies and basics for simulation training. Local hospitals who have partnered with CCTC to host clinical experiences for its Massage Therapy Program students will participate in a question-and-answer session.
CCTC’s Certificate in Massage Therapy prepares graduates for work in direct client care settings through a 900-clock-hour program that introduces students to medical, deep-tissue, neuromuscular, sports massage, spa modalities and Asian Bodywork Therapies. Students’ clinical experiences are affiliated with McLeod Regional Medical Center inpatient and outpatient cancer treatment centers, Clarendon Health System, Tuomey Healthcare System and National HealthCare Corporation of Sumter. Students employ massage therapy skills in medical-surgical, pediatrics, telemetry, oncology, hematology, women’s health, neonatal, sub-acute rehab, post-acute rehab and senior/geriatric long-term care units. Learn more:https://www.cctech.edu/academics/420.htm