The leading healthcare education provider in the region and the largest healthcare employer have joined forces to offer San Franciscans a pathway into medical careers, ensuring the Bay Area’s healthcare workforce is equipped for current and future demands.
Bay Area Medical Academy (BAMA), an accredited post-secondary medical training institution recognised by the MSA and approved by the U.S. Department of Education, is partnering with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) to train more than 100 San Francisco residents for careers in the healthcare field. This nine-month programme includes coursework, practical clinical training, and an externship at UCSF, leading to licensure as Medical Assistants, Phlebotomists, and EKG Technicians. Students who successfully complete the first four months of the programme will be guaranteed an interview with a UCSF recruiter. The programme is offered at no cost to San Francisco residents, made possible by UCSF’s generous funding.
“The opportunities that open up for our students when they begin their careers after graduation are life-changing,” said Bay Area Medical Academy CEO Simonida Cvejic. “UCSF’s support for our school is extraordinary. Both financially and as an employer-partner in the community. It means so much to our students to have these opportunities open up for them.”
The Bay Area is facing an increasing shortage of healthcare workers. Meanwhile, one in four households in San Francisco does not earn enough to cover basic living expenses. Medical Assistants in the Bay Area typically earn an average of $56,000 in their first year.
“We’re proud to be partnering with Bay Area Medical Academy to train San Franciscans for healthcare careers,” said Jeffrey Chiu, vice president and assistant vice chancellor of Talent Management at UCSF and UCSF Health. “When we create career pathways, it has a direct impact on our communities, improving health, economic opportunity, and ensuring that participants have the support needed to succeed and thrive across our organisation.”
The Medical Assisting with Phlebotomy and EKG Programme provides entry-level students with a comprehensive foundation in both clinical and administrative skills, preparing them for successful entry into the healthcare profession. The programme consists of three main components: administrative skills training, clinical skills training, and a clinical externship. The first seven modules are delivered in a hybrid classroom format, followed by a 200-240 hour clinical externship through UCSF’s Medical Assisting Academy.
Although the programme is fully funded by UCSF and free of charge, all applicants are required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Applications for the cohort are due by 1st October, with classes commencing on 28th October.
For more information, visit bamasf.edu.
To contact Bay Area Medical Academy or BAMA alumni, please reach out to Simonida Cvejic at simonida@bamasf.com or 415-710-0458, or Darren Heath at darren@bamasf.com or 510-501-4584.
