When senior Josh Zapien was in second grade, a school field trip to IU Health Hospital and a chance encounter with his grandmother, Page, likely changed his life forever.
“We had a trip to IU Health, and my grandma worked there and decided to split me from the group and take me to see a laboratory,” said Zapien. “All the staff were curious why I was there, but for me, it was exciting to see that.”
Since then, Zapien has been interested in healthcare, and his passion for medicine has only grown since entering high school. He began taking Principles of Healthcare at the Lost River Career Co-op during his freshman year to gain early exposure to the field.
Zapien’s dream career has been radiology.
“I have always been interested in how the human body works and its systems,” said Zapien.
Last year, he had the opportunity to job-shadow at the Radiology Department at IU Health Hospital in Paoli, the same place he visited all those years ago in elementary school. Although he does not have much hands-on experience, he is eager to learn more in college. So far, Zapien has only been exposed to the study of radiology in all his classes when discussing the skeletal system.
Through the numerous healthcare courses that Zapien has taken, he has also been working toward earning his CNA Certification. The process is time-consuming, requiring 30 classroom hours and 75 clinical hours. He completed his hours at Paoli Health and Living, working with residents, helping with daily living tasks.
After completing his hours, he was eligible to take his CNA exams. On May 1, he passed the written exam, and on May 8, he also passed the skills exam. To prepare for the skills exam, he had to study 72 different procedures related to patient care.
“On the skills test day, only five were selected. At first, I was nervous because I didn’t know what procedures I was going to be selected to do, but once I knew which procedures I would do, I was more confident,” said Zapien.
LRCC Healthcare Instructor Mara Carrico is incredibly proud of Josh and considers it an honor to have had Josh in her program for four years.
“Throughout his time in the program, he has shown dedication and perseverance, ultimately earning his Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification — a meaningful accomplishment highlighting his potential. Being part of his journey and watching his growth has been incredibly rewarding as an educator. I’m proud of all he has accomplished and excited to see where his path leads next as he pursues a career in radiology at the post-secondary level. The future of healthcare is brighter with students like him leading the way. He will truly be missed here at LRCC,” said Carrico.
Zapien will now take what he has learned and continue his education at IU Indianapolis. Zapien has family in the city, which he hopes will make the transition easier. He was also accepted into IU’s Groups Program, which will help cover some of his college costs.
“The campus has four hospitals, which allows for more experience,” said Zapien.
Ultimately, Zapien plans to earn his radiography and sonography degrees and hopes to work as a diagnostic radiologist.
“I want to be the person reading X-rays and diagnosing diseases or abnormalities,” said Zapien.
Josh is grateful to many family members, including his aunt Whitney Zapien, who works in the healthcare field, for supporting him on his journey into healthcare.
“I am so proud of him, and the young man he is becoming. He has always been interested in the medical field. When we would ask him what he wanted to be when he was little, he always said he wanted to be a doctor so he could help people. Now, as I see him exploring a career in the medical field, it makes me happy to know he is following his passion and heart. As a nurse I know he has what it takes to succeed in the medical field, and we always need more people to serve our patients with their purpose. I am excited to see where his journey takes him,” said Whitney. Whitney is a BSN RN and the Clinical Manager and Pathway Program Director at IU Health in Paoli.
Josh’s grandmother, Page, passed away in 2022. She will not be able to see Josh continue to pursue his dreams, but he believes she would be proud.
“She would have been really proud. It hurts to say that, but she really would have,” said Zapien.
Zapien is excited to start his journey in radiography. He encourages other students to explore healthcare opportunities and take advantage of job-shadowing and early coursework to prepare for their future careers.
