HAN members Corewell Health, Trinity Health, and University of Michigan Health are expanding access to health care careers through the Medical Assistant Registered Apprenticeship Program (MARAP), a year-long, tuition-free training program that combines classroom learning with paid, hands-on experience. Students complete coursework through Muskegon Community College or Grand Rapids Community College while gaining clinical experience at participating hospitals across the region. The program equips participants with the skills and certifications needed to enter the health care workforce while helping health systems meet the growing demand for skilled medical assistants.
For participant Tiffany Streur, the program was transformative. “MARAP gave me the resources I needed to succeed, including an opportunity in health care I never would’ve thought possible,” she shared with Rapid Growth Media. Since its launch in 2015, more than 170 individuals have completed MARAP, graduating with national certification, real-world experience, and little to no student debt. Kelly Elkins, Workforce Development Program Partner Lead at Trinity Health Michigan, called the initiative “one of the most sustainable talent strategies for building the workforce Trinity Health needs.”
This collaboration highlights how health systems and education providers can work together to develop the next generation of health professionals while strengthening local economies and communities.