Oregon Health & Science University’s Building Bridges to Healthcare Careers program has certified 110 Portland-area residents as dental assistants, medical assistants, phlebotomists or certified nursing assistants, surpassing its original target of 88 participants.
The three-year, $3 million initiative was funded through Future Ready Oregon and developed through an unusual labor-management collaboration, according to a July 13 health system news release. AFSCME Local 328, OHSU’s largest collective bargaining unit, drove the program’s creation. Ernest Perry, OHSU vice president of talent acquisition and culture, said the results exceeded the organization’s expectations.
The program required roughly 10 hours of study per week, allowing participants to remain employed during training, the release said. It also provided financial support for transportation, childcare, housing, technology and food. Community organization Unite Oregon led outreach to recruit candidates from communities of color and lower-income areas. Applications were open to both community members and existing OHSU staff; some participants previously worked in food service, custodial or landscaping roles.
OHSU is continuing to offer in-house dental assistant training, and partners are exploring how to sustain the model, according to the release. Certified graduates received priority consideration for open positions at OHSU.
Portland-based OHSU is Oregon’s only public academic health center and the city’s largest employer.
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