As a high school student, Anahel Chavez-Morales thought she could combine her desire to help others with her Spanish language skills to work with patients in the medical field. How to get there? Well, college of course, and then a job in the field. She had no idea, she said, that apprenticeship was an option. But the opportunity of a Medical Assistant (MA) Registered Apprenticeship at Arbor Family Medicine in Thornton, Colorado, changed all that. The apprenticeship allowed her to get a job in her field right after high school that combined on-the-job learning under a mentor with paid classroom training at Front Range Community College, all while earning a wage.

“I really liked the idea of the compressed model having you work and go to school for the same reason,” she said. “The apprenticeship helped me learn a lot faster and retain the information better, although it is a lot to remember. Money-wise, it is a perfect opportunity for someone who is willing to balance work and school.”

Jeanne Buscietta is Anahel’s mentor (and Chief Operating Officer and Practice Administrator for Arbor Family Medicine). She worked closely with the Apprenticeship Colorado team to develop the MA apprenticeship for two important reasons. First, she describes apprenticeship as creating an essential talent pipeline for their office; over half of their MAs today are registered apprentices. Secondly, she is passionate about the way apprenticeship provides opportunities for people who cannot afford to go to school, then get a job. “What makes [the apprenticeship model] truly special is they are learning while they’re earning, and they’re applying their skill sets that they’ve learned into practice. We want them to have the opportunity . . . to find their niche.” *

Anahel would encourage others considering apprenticeship to “just go for it and try to have a positive mindset through your journey! The people you work with are able to train you and give you the confidence necessary for both work and school.”

For Anahel, “Apprenticeship has helped me achieve goals that will set me up for greater success in my future by learning skills I never thought I’d ever have, [like] administering vaccines, drawing blood, and being more outspoken with and for patients. Being part of the healthcare field for the betterment of patients’ lives is something very special to me, and I cannot wait to continue doing what I do.”