The Laramie County Community College helps fill in the medical gap

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) - As we moved through the challenges of the pandemic, one thing became very clear we need more medical staff in Wyoming.

Gov. Mark Gordon took up the challenge by helping to produce a program that would support this growth.

We spoke to some medical professionals about what this looks like once the boots hit the ground.

As we hear more about “medical deserts” across Wyoming, the Laramie County Community College is stepping in to fill the medical gap.

As Gordon’s Health Task Force strives to bolster the state’s healthcare workforce, its exploring incentives to improve recruitment and make medical professionals want to stay and work in the state.

”We can offer a need very satisfying career with a sustainable wage to all students and we need it in our communities its a very needed skill,” said Starla Mason, Dean of Health Sciences and Wellness.

All to help stamp out the growing medical desert across Wyoming.

”Currently its taking over 10 months to fill a full time position were hoping by having this program get off the ground in the Fall of ‘24, that we’ll be able to fill those positions more rapidly for everybody across the state of Wyoming,” said Lori Arnold, Program Director of the Respiratory Therapy.

Gordon is providing support by funding community colleges with the Wyoming Innovation Partnership or WIP which is helping LCCC launch its new Certified Nursing Assistant and Echo-Cardio programs starting this Fall and Respiratory Therapy into next year.

They are also looking for and accepting their first roster of students for these programs while expanding their CNA program’s class size and frequency.

These programs have online, in-class and across-the-state practicum components to give student flexibility in completing their education across the state.

”In our CNA program we’ve changed the format completely and the goal of changing the format was to make it more accessible for wyomingites and especially t hose that are working full time or taking care of their families children parents etc,” said Karen Bowen,,, Program Director of Nursing.

And a lot of students are getting offered positions before they even finish.

”This is a really important stepping stone because patients and people especially Wyomingites need care everywhere, every setting, every community and this is a foundation that will give them that,” said Bowen.

LCCC also has scholarships, grants and financial assistance for students interested in furthering their education.

For more information on these programs, click Health Science and Wellness for CNA, Echocardiography, and Respiratory Therapy.

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