Training center aims to tackle healthcare workforce shortages

Suncoast Community Health Centers has recently opened the Suncoast Career Academy in Brandon to address the health care staffing shortage. The new training center offers programs in pharmacy technician, medical assistant, and dental assistant. Enrollment is open for both the summer and fall semesters.

The nonprofit organization is one of the first community health providers in Florida to have its own training center. The state-of-the-art facility is designed to train future health care workers and keep them in the Tampa area. CEO Bradley Herremans believes that providing well-trained, qualified support staff is essential for growing and strengthening communities from a health care perspective.

Lead Dental Assistant Alondra Gaspar, a graduate who aims to become a dental hygienist, expressed her gratitude for the new equipment at the training facility. The goal of Suncoast Career Academy is to offer a comprehensive student experience, including teaching job search skills such as resume writing and interviewing techniques.

Research shows that there is a high demand for dental assistants and medical assistants in the health care industry. The American Dental Association reports that about 36% of private practices are looking to recruit dental assistants, while a poll by the Medical Group Management Association found that 44% of practices struggle to recruit medical assistants.

Suncoast Career Academy aims to address this shortage by providing hands-on training to students. Enrollment is currently open for those interested in pursuing a career in pharmacy technology, medical assistance, or dental assistance in the upcoming semesters.