Only a senior in high school, Penny Webber is already checking vital signs, administering vaccines and working with patients as a medical assistant.
The Forest Grove High School student obtained a job at Mountain View Medical Center, where she gets a glimpse into the health care field before entering college.
But how did a 12th grader snag a job in a doctor's office?
Webber’s success story is what the Forest Grove School District hopes is the first of many as part of the local high school’s new medical certification program, which puts students on the fast track to employment.
From a young age, Webber had an affinity for working in health care. She recalled a video taken when she was in the first grade where she said she “wanted to be a heart doctor.”
“I've always been interested in the medical field,” Webber said. “My sophomore year, I decided to try out anatomy and physiology because it sounded fun, and I just continued down that pathway.”
Removing barriers to health care jobs
Adam Kriz, a health science teacher at Forest Grove High School, explained how recent years have seen larger investments in career technical education programs, which expose students to hands-on vocational learning. Wanting to connect students with immersive opportunities, Kriz started piloting an exercise physiology class as a way to eliminate barriers to the health care field.
“It's really, really difficult to get kids hands-on experiences in clinical settings. For HIPAA reasons and different regulations, the hospitals are pretty resistant to having high school kids observe. And after the pandemic, there has been a big need for health care workers,” Kriz said.
After talking with staff at the Hillsboro School District about its certified clinical medical assistant (CCMA) program, the vision for Forest Grove’s curriculum pivoted. Kriz ended up connecting with local health clinic Virginia Garcia, which runs a student-based health center on the high school’s campus.
“We spent all last year planning and writing grants and trying to figure out how the program works, and we implemented it this year,” Kriz said. “For the first year running it, the outcomes have been pretty promising.”
From classroom to clinic
Webber was one of three students Kriz asked to test-run the certification program, and a total of 39 students signed up. Learning everything from ear lavages to sterilization techniques, students interact with a variety of subjects that provide a holistic understanding of medicine — ensuring they are job-ready by graduation.
“We did vital signs — we've gone down to the student health center, and we did EKGs. And so it's been really helpful for building muscle memory and learning exactly (what) each skill entails, which I think is definitely going to help me as I go into the workforce for a medical assistant,” Webber said.
For Webber, having the student-based health center as a resource has not only helped with understanding the material but getting better insight into working as a professional.
“They've been super helpful because they have been working in the field for 10 to 20 years, and they can tell us real life examples of their experiences,” Webber said.
After passing the test in January, Webber, who was already 18, decided to put her certification to use and look for opportunities in the medical field.
“I really wanted to work, and so I sent out a bunch of different applications. And then I was looking at the Mountain View Medical Center because I have a neighbor who works there.”
Webber ended up getting an interview and securing the position, and the Forest Grove senior remarked how the new program has opened the door to entering the field.
“Honestly, it's just amazing. Getting my medical certification means I can get paid more than minimum wage and work right out of high school and go into college,” Webber said. “Almost all colleges have a student-based health center as well. And you can get student jobs there.”
In the midst of low-staffing at clinics, Webber also noted how the program plays a symbiotic role in preparing students while filling employment gaps.
“They need more medical assistants, and to have a program that’s going to have multiple high schoolers coming out ready is huge,” she said. “Even if students don’t get a job right after, it’s still a great certification to have on the resume and shows for anyone that can get their foot into the medical field.”
Just the beginning for the program
At the end of April, 16 more students took the CCMA exam, with 13 passing. One was even offered a clinic job the day after they received certification.
“Looking ahead, 20 students will be taking the CCMA test in May and June,” Kriz said in an email. “We are optimistic that they will continue our program's strong track record and secure opportunities in the medical field as medical assistants.”
With it being only the first year of the program, Kriz said he is excited to continue the new initiative, helping students succeed straight out of high school.
“I think it's a pretty solid concept — what I'm really looking forward to is developing more relationships with community partners and other organizations. And that is just the key,” Kriz said. “Our community and industry partners give the students these opportunities, and the students coming out of this program are filling a gap in employment.”
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