Fortis Institute Lawrenceville Executive Director Tim Rodgers proudly presents a check for $1,000 to the National Kidney Foundation, which student Jim Smith accepts on the foundation’s behalf June 7, 2011. (Photo courtesy of Fortis Institute.)

Jim Smith, a 54-year-old unemployed food service salesperson from Ewing, thought enrolling in the Medical Billing program at Fortis Institute in Lawrenceville was just a way to find a new job. Instead, he discovered he had a whole new support system.

Staff and students created a series of campus events, including dress down day, hat day, cook-offs and bake sales, to raise money in Smith’s honor. Smith, who currently is on a list awaiting a kidney transplant, was the first student to enroll at Fortis, which began classes in January 2011. He was 54 years old and unemployed after 20-plus years in the food business when he decided to take on a new career in medical billing and coding at Fortis. He was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease nine years ago and has always participated in the annual walk for the National Kidney Foundation, but was overwhelmed by the response of the Fortis staff and students who came out in droves for the walk June 5 and created related events to raise money. A check for $1,000 was presented June 7 to the National Kidney Foundation, which Smith accepted on the foundation’s behalf.

Fortis Institute, located at 2572 Brunswick Pike, Suite 100 in Lawrenceville, is a leading post-secondary institution offering career-based certificate, diploma and degree-granting program in 13 states. The Lawrenceville campus currently offers programs in Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting, Medical Insurance Billing and Coding and Heating, Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Systems (HVACR). For more information, please call (609) 512-2560.