Thanks to a collaboration with the Birmingham Region Health Partnership (BRHP), UAB Medicine is offering training pathways for people interested in health care roles such as certified medical assistant, ophthalmic technician, and surgical technologist. The goal is to build a robust pipeline of skilled and qualified workers for certain medical jobs that are in high demand within the region.
In 2022, the City of Birmingham was awarded a $10.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration. It used the funding to create the BRHP workforce training program, commonly known as Good Jobs. UAB Medicine is an employer partner of the Good Jobs Challenge program, which was included in the American Rescue Plan signed into law in 2021.
Regina Pettway participated in the Good Jobs program and is now a certified medical assistant at the UAB Endocrinology Clinic. “The training program helped me learn new skills, and the process was very easy,” she said.
An important step
Such training pathways are designed to equip participants with the skills, knowledge, and credentials needed to help them obtain jobs in their area of interest. UAB Medicine employee Tamica Thomas – a patient care technician with the Spinal Cord Injury Unit at UAB Hospital – knows firsthand the value of this program and what it can mean for someone’s career journey.
“The training I received gave me hands-on experience to see exactly what was in store for the future and make sure I would know exactly what to do once I was in the field,” Thomas said.
The Good Jobs program is an important step toward strengthening the health care workforce in central Alabama. UAB Medicine is committed to supporting this effort by fostering talent and contributing to the community’s economic growth.
Click here to apply for the Good Jobs program. There is no charge to participate, and it can help you qualify for a health care job at UAB Medicine – especially if you don’t meet the minimum requirements or have the financial resources to pursue training on your own.