Bethany Freeman, a healthcare professional and RN Clinical Instructor at Batavia Campus Health Dimensions, traces her successful career back to her roots at the Batavia Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center at Genesee Valley BOCES. A 2003 graduate of BOCES’ Health Careers Academy, Bethany credits the program’s hands-on clinical experiences and specialized curriculum for shaping her career path. “The clinical experiences I attended while at BOCES made a huge impact on my career choices and helped me navigate what degrees to pursue after high school,” she says. Her time at BOCES provided an early, immersive look into patient care that solidified her passion for healthcare and set her on a path to success.
Following her graduation from BOCES, Bethany earned a Bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences from Daemen College and a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from the University at Buffalo. She spent a decade working in OR nursing before coming full circle in 2023, when she returned to BOCES as a clinical instructor. Now, she’s giving back to the next generation of healthcare professionals, mentoring students with the same dedication and guidance she once received. Her journey from student to skilled nurse and respected instructor highlights the life-changing impact of BOCES programs, offering students like her a solid foundation and a pathway to fulfilling careers in healthcare.
Reflecting on her academic success, Bethany credits BOCES for providing her with a leg up. “The ability to excel in college courses was partly due to learning and better understanding the medical terminology at BOCES,” she noted. This preparation not only gave her confidence but also allowed her to approach complex college material with a level of familiarity many students lacked.
In 2023, Bethany returned to her roots at the Batavia Campus, this time as an RN Clinical Instructor for Health Dimensions. In her new role, she has found a renewed sense of purpose in guiding young healthcare professionals as they begin their own journeys. “I’m so happy to be back teaching the next generation,” Bethany shared with enthusiasm. “To know that I can play a part in helping these students build their skills, navigate challenges, and see themselves in this field—it’s incredibly fulfilling.”
As a clinical instructor, Bethany mentors students through hands-on experiences similar to the ones that inspired her own career. She understands firsthand the significance of real-world training and aims to instill the same values in her students that BOCES instilled in her. Her teaching philosophy centers on empowering students to approach each clinical experience with curiosity, courage, and a commitment to learning.
When asked about her advice for current BOCES students, Bethany didn’t hesitate. “The greatest piece of advice I can give is to take advantage of the resources available to you—ask questions, participate in everything. You’ll never have an opportunity like this again, and the teachers are there because they are the experts in that field,” she said. “They all want you to be successful. Even if you don’t pursue a career related to the program after graduation, you will still have that knowledge for life, and no one can take that from you. You never know when those skills will benefit you later!”
Bethany’s journey is a powerful reminder of how early exposure to career education can have a lasting impact. The skills she learned, the mentors she met, and the experiences she had at BOCES have come full circle, now benefiting her students as she helps them chart their own paths. Her story underscores the value of programs like Health Careers Academy or Health Dimensions in shaping the healthcare professionals of tomorrow and shows the transformative power of education in action.
Bethany Freeman’s career has come full circle—from student to skilled OR nurse to respected clinical instructor. She stands as a testament to the role of vocational training in building careers and changing lives, a legacy she is now proud to pass on to the next generation of healthcare professionals.