A CPR and emergency cardiac care program in the Bethany area just earned one of the American Heart Association's first-ever national All-Star Awards — capping a genuine comeback from near-closure that now puts lifesaving training within easy reach of local families.

The AHA Training Center at PCC Rock Creek was among the very first group of centers nationwide to receive the 2025 honor, recognizing centers that consistently deliver high-quality CPR and emergency care education while meeting rigorous training standards.

The center welcomes the general public, not only healthcare workers. Its Heartsaver courses teach CPR, defibrillator use, and basic first aid, while medical professionals can also earn Basic Life Support, Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, and Advanced Stroke Life Support credentials there.

The center has run for 24 years, training more than 18,000 students in 2004 alone at its peak. But enrollment later declined, and the program faced possible closure right before the pandemic hit. PCC kept it alive through those hardest years with help from Life Flight Network, Legacy Health, Just in Time Training and Medical Outreach CPR, moving courses online before eventually bringing instruction back in person. Enrollment has been climbing ever since.

"I am most proud that we are making a comeback; that we did not give up," said Teresa Parrish, who supports the training center. "Being recognized after everything the program has been through shows the dedication of our instructors, partners and students."

Dean Janeen Hull, who leads PCC's Healthcare and Emergency Professions pathway, said the courses help everyday learners build real confidence for medical emergencies while strengthening safety across the whole community. Many PCC healthcare students are actually required to earn this same certification before entering clinical training or the workforce — and having it available right on the Rock Creek campus removes a real barrier for students throughout Bethany, Cedar Mill, Oak Hills and West Haven-Sylvan.

Fall 2026 registration is already open, with the term beginning Sept. 21. Individual session dates aren't posted online yet — residents should visit pcc.edu/professional/health/heart-association or call 971-722-6626 to check availability.