At a celebratory ceremony held at its corporate headquarters in Marlton, Virtua Health honored the inaugural graduating class of its newly established Medical Assistant (MA) Program.
The ten graduates represent a strategic expansion of Virtua’s clinical workforce, designed to address the surging demand for health care professionals in South Jersey. Following a rigorous 10-week curriculum of classroom instruction and a month-long clinical rotation, these graduates are now transitioning into full-time roles within Virtua Medical Group (VMG) practices.
The program was launched as an accessible entry point for individuals at various life stages. The first cohort includes recent high school graduates, career changers, and even existing Virtua employees from non-clinical departments.
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Diverse Backgrounds: Three of the graduates previously served the health system in security, the hospital gift shop, and the Child Development Center.
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Affordability: With a total cost of $1,665 (including testing and scrubs), the program is significantly more accessible than traditional two-year degrees.
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Financial Incentives: To encourage long-term growth, Virtua provides graduates with a $500 bonus after six months of employment and an additional $1,000 at the one-year mark.
“The MA Program provides our students with the opportunity to develop skills and secure employment,” AnneMarie Palatnik, Virtua’s vice president of Clinical Learning & Research said. “It can be a great career or a launching point for students who aspire to advance into nursing or allied health.”
Among the graduates is 73-year-old Patricia DeSantis, a former paramedic who retired early to care for her mother. Ready to return to the workforce but unable to meet the physical rigors of emergency response, DeSantis found her second act in medical assisting.
“Not everybody is ready to retire,” DeSantis noted. “It has been so gratifying to learn with a younger generation who are so smart and capable.”
Similarly, Sydney Brooks, 28, viewed the program as a vital bridge. As a mother of a two-year-old, the cost and time of a traditional nursing degree were out of reach. “This is the first step toward my goal of becoming a registered nurse working in labor and delivery or pediatrics,” Brooks said.
Medical assistants are the “glue” of modern medical practices, performing a hybrid of clinical and administrative tasks that ensure smooth patient flow.
| Clinical Responsibilities | Administrative Responsibilities |
| Taking vital signs (blood pressure, pulse) | Scheduling patient appointments |
| Drawing blood (phlebotomy) | Updating electronic health records (EHR) |
| Administering vaccines/injections | Managing billing and insurance coding |
| Assisting with minor surgical procedures | Patient intake and medical history |
