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State of Franklin Healthcare Associates (SOFHA) announces that it has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the Workforce Development Board (WDB). Received in partnership with the Johnson City chapter of the First Tennessee Development District, the grant will support SOFHA’s Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) Apprenticeship Program, which aspires to improve career opportunities for the community while creating a pipeline to qualified clinical staff for SOFHA.

In summer 2023, SOFHA partnered with Northeast State Community College to launch the state-certified CCMA Apprenticeship Program, the first of its kind for Northeast State and the Tri-Cities Region. Participants consist of internal SOFHA employees who want to advance their careers as well as external candidates seeking new employment opportunities. The newly received grant will help to offset some of the administrative expenses incurred to host the program. “By partnering with Northeast State and having a CCMA Apprenticeship Program, SOFHA sends a clear message to job seekers that they will receive quality training and that the company has the tools and resources to help them learn and advance their careers,” said Katie Reed, talent acquisition manager for SOFHA. “Our apprentices learn different aspects of healthcare through on-the-job training that sets a foundation for our future. This program ensures we have well-trained CCMAs to serve our patients,” Reed added. “Our CCMA apprentices take pride in the hard work they’ve put in, and they understand the importance of passing on the knowledge and skills they’ve developed to the next cohort of apprentices that come behind them. Through teamwork, compassion, and extra effort, we achieve excellence—and that’s what the SOFHA CCMA Apprenticeship Program is all about.

”The program’s inaugural CCMA class consisted of a four-person cohort, all of whom recently graduated. SOFHA recently welcomed a second—and even larger—cohort of nine aspiring CCMAs. This program partnership, and others like it, serve SOFHA’s mission to improve the health and well-being of patients and team members in its served regions.

“The CCMA apprenticeship is an amazing opportunity to learn useful skills in a supportive environment. SOFHA has opportunities for everyone, and the program is a great way to get your foot in the door,” said recent program graduate Anna Cowan. “As someone who had never worked for SOFHA before, I immediately felt welcome and was impressed by the focus on team member well-being. The CCMA program allowed me to get a certification, learn new skills, meet awesome peers, and work in a setting that challenges me to learn new things every day. I would recommend this program to anyone who’s interested in advancing their knowledge of the medical field or wants a great place to work.

“Working at Johnson City Internal Medicine as a medical assistant has been an incredible experience,” Cowan added. “I immediately felt supported by staff, and I enjoy coming to work every day because I know I’m going to be working with good people and learning something new.”