Celebrating Success with Virginia Mason Jobs to Careers

Tuesday night was a special one for a group of Virginia Mason Medical Center employees. They are the first graduates from the Jobs to Careers Medical Assistant Program.

Jobs to Careers is an innovative work-based education program that provides entry-level health care workers with a pathway to become medical assistants. The program was developed to remove barriers that prevent many entry-level workers from pursuing additional education. The program combines traditional classroom work with online and on-the-job expereince and coaching.

"I wanted to go back to school, but with needed to work full-time, it wouldn't be possible with out this program," newly minted MA Mary Pelaxo said. "It's an awesome program."

The investment in frontline workers is one way to fulfill the increasing demand for highly skilled and qualified health care workers.

"As a manager, I see the program as an opportunity to invest in my employees," Karen Morar said. "Instead of just hiring someone who will just see this position as a job, I get to help someone find an area they are passionate about and then help them reach their goal."

Jobs to Careers is a partnerships between Renton Technical College and Virginia Mason Medical Center. The Health Work Force Institute is involved in the national roll-out of the Jobs to Careers program, providing expertise to Virginia Mason and three additional sites around the country.

The program is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Hitachi Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Labor, and is managed by Jobs for the Future. Virginia Mason is one of only 17 sites in the nation and the only one in Washington to receive funding for the program.