Health Pathway
What is the Health Pathway?
If you're passionate about caring for others and making a difference in people's lives, our comprehensive health programs provide the knowledge, skills, and hands-on experience needed to excel in the dynamic healthcare industry. Or, start with CGCC and use one of our articulation agreements with other institutions as a stepping stone to your career path.
CGCC Programs in the Pathway
Nursing
Choose our Nursing program and be ready to step into a fulfilling career as a registered nurse.
Medical Assistant
Become a vital part of the healthcare team with our Medical Assisting program.
Emergency Medical Services
In this program, you'll receive advanced training in pre-hospital emergency care.
Teaching & Learning
The Health Occupations Programs at Columbia Gorge Community College are grounded in the belief that healthcare education must be rigorous, relevant, inclusive, and aligned with the evolving needs of our community. Our mission is to prepare students for meaningful, compassionate, and competent practice—while holding faculty and program leadership equally accountable to high standards of teaching, ethics, and professional excellence.
We believe:
Community-Relevant Education must prepare students to meet diverse healthcare needs while faculty and leadership ensure curriculum stays current, evidence-based, and responsive to local and national priorities.
Accessible and Affordable Education should reduce barriers for all learners, with faculty and administrators working together to support equity, retention, and success.
Rigor and Dedication are essential to both student learning and instructional quality. Students are expected to engage with discipline and integrity, while faculty are responsible for delivering challenging, standards-driven instruction, supported by program leadership.
Professional and Ethical Standards guide every aspect of healthcare education. Students, faculty, and administrators are expected to model ethical behavior, uphold regulatory standards, and foster accountability in all practices.
Excellence in Practice is a shared commitment. Faculty must maintain clinical and teaching excellence; administrators must support this through resources and continuous improvement; students must strive for competence, compassion, and lifelong learning.
Diversity and Equity are foundational. All stakeholders are responsible for promoting inclusion and creating environments that respect and uplift learners from all backgrounds.
Caring for the Whole Community requires cultural humility and respect for all people. Faculty and staff must integrate these values into instruction and program design, preparing graduates to provide culturally responsive care across the lifespan.
Through these shared commitments, we educate future healthcare professionals who are clinically skilled, ethically grounded, and prepared to improve health outcomes across our region.