Medical Assistant training program at FHCHC

[Kristie Ballisciano]

To continue the culture of ongoing learning and enhancement for our staff and community, Fair Haven Community Health Care (FHCHC) has established a 3-year partnership with the National Institute for Medical Assistant Advancement (NIMAA) to develop a new training program for medical assistants (MA). The goals of this program include, providing affordable and accessible educational opportunities that address workplace shortages in the Fair Haven community, enabling graduates to gain competencies and knowledge to be able to apply for an entry-level position in the MA profession, and increasing the number of Spanish-speaking MA’s.

Medical assistants are one of the fastest growing occupations nationally but there have been limited new MA’s in areas such as Fair Haven due to program cost. FHCHC will be able to provide financial support to eligible students to cover tuition and expenses tied to their participation in the program.

Sherry Petit, Director of Nursing said, "Medical assistants are important contributors to the positive health care experience we provide to our patients at Fair Haven Community Health Care. As we continue to grow, we always need more medical assistants who have a heart for caring. The NIMAA course scholarship program provides a wonderful opportunity for members of our local community to take their initial step into working in a clinical setting. I encourage anyone who has a heart to care for others in a clinical setting to consider applying for admission to the program."
Central to this program is hands-on clinical experience at FHCHC’s Grand Avenue clinic combined with the latest online educational instruction. Throughout NIMAA’s 8-month training program, each student will work closely with a preceptor at FHCHC to develop the skills and experience needed to work in a high functioning, patient-centered medical team.

FHCHC is currently recruiting candidates for the first class of new medical assistant students starting in September 2024. Potential candidates, please apply on the NIMAA website at www.nimaa.edu. The admission application deadline is May 29th, 2024.

For more information, please contact Bill Crocker at [e-mail].