The Wright Center Collaborates with National Institute for Medical Assistant Advancement on Scholarship Program

The Wright Center for Community Health and the National Institute for Medical Assistant Advancement are collaborating on a paid scholarship program that will educate, train and employ up to 10 medical assistants for the regional health care provider.

The scholarship program prepares individuals for an exciting and rewarding career in health care without out-of-pocket expenses for tuition. The National Institute for Medical Assistant Advancement offers a one-of-a-kind training model that combines flexible online learning with a paid internship in a primary care clinical setting over 29 weeks. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older with a high school diploma, GED or equivalent. The scholarship is worth $6,000.

Students will also receive personalized training with experienced medical professionals at The Wright Center for Community Health during the clinical portion of their education while earning $10 per hour. After completing the educational component of the program, students will sit for the National Healthcareer Association Medical Assistant examination to receive their Certified Clinical Medical Assistant credential. Students who complete the national training program have an 85% pass rate.

The 10 students who accept the scholarship will be eligible for employment at The Wright Center for Community Health’s practices in Lackawanna, Luzerne and Wayne counties, which serve patients in a five-county region. New medical assistants will receive $18 per hour upon successfully completing the program and passing the certification examination, and agreeing to a two-year commitment to work at the local health care provider.

“Medical assistants are integral members of our patient care team,” said Kathleen Barry, deputy chief operating officer at the Wright Center for Community Health. “We are pleased to offer this opportunity to regional residents who are looking for a rewarding and exciting career, while addressing the health care needs of community members in the region.”

A medical assistant is responsible for assisting doctors and nurses in providing care to patients in hospitals, offices of physicians and other health care facilities. Duties could include recording and updating medical histories and contact information in patient files, scheduling patient appointments and performing standard care procedures, such as taking blood samples, measuring and recording vital signs, and more.

The employment outlook for medical assistants is projected to grow 18% from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 104,400 openings are projected annually, on average, over the decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The deadline to apply for the scholarship program is Sunday, Nov. 14. Interested applicants can apply at nimaa.edu/admissions. Please call 570-230-0111 for more information.