Four Prism Career Institute graduates were recently hired by the Drexel University College of Medicine as Certified Medical Assistants through a partnership with the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative.
The 12-week program provides paid technical skills training, paid professional development training, mentoring by seasoned medical professionals, career development and job coaching services and the opportunity for a permanent position.
The four students hired, Catherine Brooks, Angela Caple, Ikeya Rutledge and Aaliyah Hosten are all 2013 graduates of the Medical Assisting program at Prism Career Institute in Upper Darby, Pa.
“Prism showed me the skills I needed to pursue my career as a CMA,” said Brooks, one of the students chosen. “I love working for Drexel. It is a great experience and the medical staff is awesome. This program is an opportunity of a lifetime. Medical assistant jobs can be hard to come by but learning the knowledge from this program makes you much more marketable.”
Employment of medical assistants is projected to grow 29 percent through 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The Medical Assistant program at Prism Career Institute is designed to provide students with the education and skills to obtain entry-level positions in the field. Students learn to function as professional Medical Assistants, as well as how to practice safety precautions and communicate effectively with patients and families.
“We were recruiting applicants from all of the Medical Assistant programs in West Philadelphia and Prism was a delight to work with,” said Sharon Thompsonwak, program manager of the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative. “The students hired are, on the whole, team-oriented individuals who contribute to our classroom discussions. They seem willing to engage with new ideas and are able to pick up concepts quickly”