“Through this program, students will be introduced to core concepts, tools, and techniques essential for understanding and applying AI in professional, academic and personal settings,” said Jason Konesco, executive vice president, Ģ����ý. “Offering this certification is an example of how Trocaire, as an opportunity college, is helping to address the needs and offer solutions for upskilling today’s current workforce.”

Trocaire has hired Anthony DeSimone, CPA, CMA, and AI integration expert, to create and teach this certification course. For more than 25 years, DeSimone has delivered AI-focused and leadership education, including leading AI accelerator programs and workshops and specializing in making existing standard operating procedures more efficient through AI integration. He serves as president of You’re the Expert Now, LLC and owner of ChatGPhD.com.

“AI is more than just a buzzword, it can give both individuals and organizations a measurable advantage when it comes to improved efficiency and productivity,” said DeSimone. “This program is designed to train professionals across industries in safe, ethical, and effective use of Generative AI, and empower them to integrate AI effectively and strategically within their own organization.”

The six-week program, which includes weekly two-hour in-person or online classes, focuses on topics ranging from AI fundamentals to prompt engineering, workflow automation, and ethical integration into organizations. Students will gain hands-on experience using ChatGPT, building task-specific prompts, creating custom GPTs, and exploring AI’s most advanced features. Students will build a practice AI toolkit, culminating in a capstone project and live feedback session. Graduates of the program will receive a Beginner’s Certificate upon completion. No technical background is required.

The first cohort is slated to launch Dec. 1. For more details and to apply, visit trocaire.edu/academics/workforce-development/chatgpt-101/.

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Trocaire received a $150,000 grant to launch the Blue Fund Scholars workforce training program for marginalized populations, focused on developing career pathways to LPN certification and employment.  

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“Catholic Health strives to provide career advancement opportunities to help our associates achieve their personal and professional goals,” said health system President & CEO Mark Sullivan. “In partnership with Ģ����ý, we will be able to help more than 20 members of our healthcare team who have a sincere interest and desire to grow their careers in these vital health professions.”

As healthcare providers everywhere face continued staffing shortages following the COVID pandemic, Catholic Health has worked hard over the past year to bolster its recruitment and retention efforts.

“Investing in our own associates is one of the best ways to make Catholic Health a place where people want to work and advance their careers,” Sullivan continued. “It’s a win-win for our system and the individuals who will benefit most from this important educational opportunity.”

The scholarship recipients will enroll at Ģ����ý for the two-year degree programs beginning with the 2023/24 academic year. A program was held at Mercy Hospital today to present the recipients with their scholarships.

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With this funding, Trocaire will establish the Cybersecurity Preparation Academy (C-Prep), a high school dual enrollment cybersecurity program where students will earn industry-recognized professional certifications and college credits upon high school graduation. Participating students will also receive the benefit of early assurance admission to Trocaire and advanced standing in its cybersecurity AAS degree program.

“To keep pace with the rapidly growing demand for cybersecurity technicians here in Western New York, the goal of this project is to create an educational pathway to a full-time IT career, especially among diverse students who are currently underrepresented in the technology sector,” said Dr. Jennifer Blickwedehl, associate vice president for academic affairs, Ģ����ý. “Through education and awareness, we also hope to dispel common misconceptions about needing a math or technology background to be successful in an IT career and instead focus on the necessary skills and personality attributes.”

The National Science Foundation’s Advanced Technological Education program focuses on the education of technicians for the advanced-technology fields that drive the country’s economy.

Trocaire will partner with two local high schools to offer the program beginning this fall through May 2025. In addition to the courses, Trocaire will also provide professional development and IT instructor training for high school teachers, assist students with individualized support and mentoring, and strengthen students’ connections to the workforce through work-based learning opportunities.

Congressman Brian Higgins said, “This federal grant supports partnerships that prepare young people for jobs in high-demand fields. We commend Trocaire for leading this initiative, training the next generation of Western New York’s workforce, and giving students a jump-start on a promising career.”

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For the first time, and are partnering to offer courses geared towards future career opportunities in healthcare. Beginning this summer, programs in phlebotomy, sterile processing and pharmacy technician will be held at Gerard Place located at 2535 Bailey Ave., Buffalo. Each of these three certificate programs can be completed in as little as three months.

“Gerard Place is very pleased to be partnering with Ģ����ý to offer our community wonderful opportunities for careers in the health care field,” said David Zapfel, president and CEO, Gerard Place. “We look forward to expanding our collaboration so that everyone can participate and move forward with good paying jobs in healthcare.”

Beginning July 12, and running Tuesdays and Thursdays through Sept. 13, the phlebotomy program includes in-person lectures, a three-week clinical placement, and soft-skills work readiness training with one-on-one mentoring and job coaching provided by Gerard Place.

The sterile processing program prepares students to develop skills necessary to properly disinfect, prepare, process, store, and issue both sterile and non-sterile medical/surgical supplies and equipment for direct patient care and clinical use. This course begins Aug. 30 and runs Mondays and Wednesdays through Nov. 21.

The pharmacy technician program begins Sept. 27 and is held Tuesdays and Thursdays through Dec. 15. The 12-week program prepares pharmacy techs in working under the direction of a pharmacist to measure, mix, count out, label, and record amounts and dosages of medications based on the prescription orders as well as provide customer service.

“Partnering with Gerard Place is part of Trocaire’s workforce development strategy to help connect people with the resources and training needed for a new career pathway,” said Dr. Gary Smith, vice president, innovation and advancement, Ģ����ý. “The needed training for entry-level positions in phlebotomy, sterile processing, and pharmacy tech each take just a few months to complete. In addition, while each of these are rewarding career fields on their own, each can also be a steppingstone to more opportunities within the growing healthcare industry.”

Gerard Place strengthens the community as it empowers individuals and families toward self-sufficiency by providing housing, supportive services, community education and outreach. By taking a human-centered approach, Gerard Place empowers those in need by providing the tools, support and safe haven needed on a journey to achieve life goals. For more information, visit .

Applications for these three programs are free and being accepted now. For more information or to apply for Trocaire’s phlebotomy, sterile processing, or pharmacy tech programs held at Gerard Place, visit .

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“Our DMS program is at full enrollment and with the pandemic causing changes in healthcare settings, more of our students were using our on-campus equipment to meet their required scan time,” said Jaime White, director of imaging programs, Ģ����ý. “It’s important that we offer our students the latest equipment that they will be exposed to in the clinical setting. Thanks to the generous support of Cummings Foundation, we can meet this increased student demand, providing them with more hands-on experience for clinicals and future career opportunities.”

James H. Cummings Foundation recognizes the technology and equipment needs of quality healthcare training and education for those entering medical professions and has been a strong supporter of Trocaire and its students for five decades. Most recently, Cummings Foundation funded Trocaire to purchase and implement the SonoSim Ultrasound Training Solution in late 2019, which enabled students to successfully complete their course of study virtually amidst the pandemic.

“The educational programs at Ģ����ý are instrumental in ensuring Western New York has a well-trained quality healthcare force. This new ultrasound equipment along with other our recent grants enable students to learn on high quality equipment and experience the sort of situations they will encounter when they enter healthcare settings” said Mary Jo Hunt, executive director and secretary, James H. Cummings Foundation.

For more information on Trocaire’s DMS program or any of its medical imaging programs, visit, .

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“Our customer service program marks the start of a new collaboration with Buffalo City Mission, Our Lady of Victory and Cazenovia Recovery to provide opportunities for those who are looking for additional training to begin a new career or change career paths,” said Gary Smith, Ed.D., vice president, innovation and workforce development at Ģ����ý. “Qualified customer service professionals continue to be in high demand, and we are working with local companies to help train potential employees with the skill set employers are looking for to fill both in-person and remote positions.”

As part of the program, students will receive live, instructor led classes, certification exams, eight sessions of work readiness through Trocaire’s ongoing partnership with 716 Ministries, career coaching and mentoring, and employer networking. Program funding is available for qualified applicants through generous support from the Garman Family Foundation.

“The Buffalo City Mission has been ‘restoring lives since 1917.’ We are honored and grateful for the opportunity to continue this tradition by partnering with our colleagues from Ģ����ý, Our Lady of Victory, Cazenovia Recovery and 716 Ministries,” said John Ingersoll, manager, vocational & adult education, Buffalo City Mission. “We look forward to working together to provide this opportunity of personal and professional growth for those participating in the program from Erie and Niagara Counties.”

Classes start Jan. 18 and will be held Mondays thru Thursdays from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. It will be a hybrid model with classes offered at Buffalo City Mission, Our Lady of Victory and Cazenovia Recovery.  

For more information on the program or to enroll, visit .

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Start the New Year with a new career in the growing information technology industry! Ģ����ý has announced its latest IT course offerings, designed to prepare students for both entry-level and advanced help desk and tech support positions.

IT skills are in demand, and Western New York employers are hiring now for qualified candidates,” said Dan Neville, associate dean and director of the Trocaire Technology Institute. “You don’t have to be a computer whiz or math guru to work in IT; it’s about having a willingness to learn and problem solve. Both of Trocaire’s IT courses help to lay the foundation and provide the basic skills needed to start a new career in IT.

Beginning Feb. 15, Trocaire’s IT Career Jump Start program is a 12-week online, instructor-led program that covers basic internet security, foundational IT concepts and terminology and in-depth training in the skills necessary for a help desk or tech support position. Qualified candidates may also receive additional work-readiness skills training in partnership with 716 Ministries and the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County. Jump Start funding is available for qualified applicants through the Buffalo and Erie County Workforce Development Consortium.

The 36-week IT Career Reboot program is also an online, instructor-led program designed for someone with little to no experience in information technology. Funding provided by a grant from Empire State Development and the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation administered by the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo. Beginning March 1, the initial 12 weeks provides the basics covered in Trocaire’s Jump Start program, but then builds on the introductory skills exploring operating systems, cloud technologies and networking along with server operations, Linux and the foundations of computer security.  As students progress through the program, they will have the opportunity to earn multiple industry certifications from CompTIA and others.

In addition, students who earn certifications may apply to convert them to college credit in Trocaire’s AAS cybersecurity degree.

For more information on either program or to enroll, visit Workforce Development.

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For individuals looking for new career opportunities in the healthcare industry, Ģ����ý announced it is now enrolling for its next offerings of phlebotomy and sterile processing and distribution technician certificate programs.

“Both programs prepare students for entry-level careers in these fast-growing fields while enabling them to gain the theoretical and practical expertise for success,” said Dr. Gary Smith, vice president, innovation and workforce development, Ģ����ý. “While each are a rewarding field on their own, they also provide a stepping stone to other healthcare career opportunities.”

Phlebotomy

Beginning Jan. 12, the 14-week phlebotomy program is offered in three sections: remote and in person lectures, three-week clinical placement, and soft skills work-readiness training with one-on-one mentoring and coaching provided by 716 Ministries. The cost of the course is $1,600. Full funding is available for qualified applicants. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will receive a certificate of completion from Trocaire and will be eligible to sit for the national examination for additional credentialing. Students will have an opportunity to network with professionals and employers in phlebotomy during the course of the program.

Sterile Processing and Distribution

Trocaire’s sterile processing and distribution program prepares students to develop skills necessary to properly disinfect, prepare, process, store, and issue both sterile and non-sterile medical/surgical supplies and equipment for direct patient care. The 10-week program, which begins Jan. 25, is a hybrid of remote lectures and a 20-hour clinical experience. Graduates of the program will be eligible to apply to take the certification exam through the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution. The cost of the course is $1,600. Full funding is available for qualified applicants. Students will have an opportunity to network with professionals and employers in sterile processing during the course of the program.

For more information on either program or to enroll, visit trocaire.edu/wd.

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To further level up your brewing game, enroll now for Trocaire’s brewing certificate program beginning Feb. 1

As a holiday treat for craft beverage enthusiasts and brewing professionals, Ģ����ý is offering two free virtual brewing workshops this December and January.

“With more people staying at home, this winter is the perfect time to learn more about the art and science of craft beverage making,” said Erik Coleman, Brewing, Distilling, and Fermentation Science program director, Ģ����ý. “It also serves as a nice introduction for people who may be interested in enrolling in our brewing certificate program.”

Trocaire’s free brewing workshops include:

Cicerone Level 1 Seminar (certified beer server), Dec. 5 and Dec. 12, 10 a.m. – 1p.m. – Great beer service starts with fundamentals: beer, clean glassware, a proper pour and beer that hasn’t been ruined by incorrect handling. It also involves dialog between server and guest with talk of beer styles and flavors. This seminar assesses these skills to recognize those individuals who are prepared to serve today’s wide range of beers and includes a Cicerone Certified Beer server exam.

Introduction to Homebrewing Workshop, Jan. 9, 6 – 7:30 p.m. – Led by local brewing and distilling experts Andrew Harding, Thin Man Brewing Co. and Kevin Ford, Buffalo Distilling Company, this workshop is designed for the novice brewer to learn the basics of home brewing. In addition, beer enthusiasts looking to develop a deeper understanding of beer, its ingredients and the process by which it is made will also appreciate this workshop. Find out about extract brewing, malts, grains, yeasts and how to avoid or troubleshoot the most common problems.

Due to continuing interest, Ģ����ý’s Brewing, Distilling and Fermentation Science certificate program will now be offered starting Feb. 1. Offered via videoconference, the instructor-led program runs Mondays from 6 – 9 p.m. beginning Feb. 1 through Aug. 23, 2021. Owners and head brewers from regional breweries and distillers will provide guest lectures, virtual tours, and demonstrations. The 100 hours of live online classes, which include modules covering Sensory Evaluation, Introduction to Brewing, the Science of Brewing and certifications in TIPS, ServeSafe and Level 1 Cicerone, is capped by a 100-hour internship at the end of the program. This program is designed to prepare individuals for entry-level positions in the craft beverage industry or upskill the home brewer.

For more information on the upcoming free brewing programs, program requirements for the certificate program and to enroll, visit staging.trocaire.edu/brewing.

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