May 27, 2008

Cannon named Allied Health Department Chair

Having graduated from Cowley College’s first MICT program in 1997 and having worked for the school since 1998, Chris Cannon was recently named the director of EMS education and chair of the Allied Health Department.

Cannon replaces Slade Griffiths as Cowley College’s Allied Health Department Chair. Griffiths, who was recently named Cowley College’s vice president of academic affairs, believes Cannon will do well in his new role.

“Chris is a great instructor and has shown great leadership in developing courses and degrees,” Griffiths said. “He was instrumental in developing the leadership classes that have done well and met the needs of the community. I am confident that he will excel with these new responsibilities.”

After graduating from Cowley’s first MICT program in 1997, Cannon worked as a field paramedic and training officer for Butler County EMS. He has been a Cowley adjunct faculty member since 1998 and a full-time MICT instructor since 2005. With over six years of full-time ALS field experience and 13 years of total EMS experience - including volunteer fire fighting and first response - he brings an intimate understanding of many different EMS systems to the classroom.

At Cowley, Cannon was a recipient of the 2007 NISOD Master Teacher Award, and also the 2007 Cowley College Young Achiever Award.

Cannon is looking forward to continue working with members of the Allied Health Department, but will miss working with Griffiths.

“We have such a phenomenal staff, it’s great to be a part of such a good team,” Cannon said. “Slade has been an excellent person to work with. He had great vision and leadership for the department, and helped me a lot.”

As the Department Chair, Cannon will guide and oversee all EMS courses, healthcare-related courses, the MICT program, the Nursing Home Administrator program, Pratt’s LPN/RN program, Certified Medication Aide, Certified Nurse Assistant, Home Health Aide and Restorative Aide classes, EMS leadership degree and certificate, Medical Coding program, and nutrition, medical transcription and medical terminology classes.

He will also help develop academic policy for the college, develop new college academic programs, evaluate and approve curricular changes at the college, and a host of other duties.

He will also be responsible for guiding and ensuring excellence within the department.

“I look to help guide the department into the future, and continue to be a high quality provider Allied Health program.” Cannon said.

As the director of EMS education, he is responsible for all aspects of the EMS division. He co-teaches the daytime MICT program with Cindy Branscum and the evening MICT program. He acts as the academic advisor for all pre-MICT majors and the 18-month MICT students. He is also responsible for the continued accreditation of the MICT program.