Highlights from the HASC-MedCerts Partner Solutions Webinar
HASC recently hosted an informational webinar with our partners at MedCerts, a leader in online allied health and health care IT training. The engaging discussion centered on innovative solutions to address critical workforce shortages across our member hospitals.
HASC’s Program Director of Education Operations Sharri Dixon opened the session by reaffirming the partnership’s shared goal: to create sustainable, scalable pathways to meet health care workforce needs today and into the future.
Kelly Pierce, senior account manager, and Jennifer Kolb, VP of partnerships and workforce development, MedCerts, then described the range of education and workforce models offered.
Transforming Talent Pipelines
MedCerts programs are designed to shorten time to hire, reduce costs and increase retention by building direct talent pipelines. The models combine flexible, immersive virtual learning with employer-provided clinical training. With this approach, hospitals can quickly onboard skilled talent while offering employees and students high-quality education and a path to national certifications.
The team highlighted multiple models:
- Train and Hire: Recruiting and training new talent for urgent workforce needs
- Upskilling Incumbent Workers: Advancing current employees into critical roles through focused training.
- Early Talent Development: Partnering with high schools to begin building future health care pipelines.
- Registered Apprenticeships: Tapping into federal support and funding for creating sustainable “earn to learn” training programs.
Success Stories
One of the session’s most compelling moments came from Sandi Philson, HCA Healthcare. She described how her team built a surgical technologist pipeline by pairing a MedCerts learning model with hands-on clinical training. Their first cohort reached high completion and certification rates, with graduates moving into full-time, high-demand roles.
Kolb also shared a success from UnityPoint Health, whose “Grow Your Own” program has enrolled hundreds of employees in medical assistant training. Another client, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, partnered with MedCerts on a high school program that creates direct pathways for students to enter the workforce with certifications in hand.
Why It Matters
Health care workforce shortages require strategic partnerships, not short-term fixes. These MedCerts success stories show how hospitals can upskill employees for new roles, address staffing gaps and reduce turnover with innovative, scalable solutions.
HASC will continue working with MedCerts and other partners to bring workforce development strategies to our member hospitals. Our goal for these partnerships is not just to fill jobs, but to help you build sustainable health care pipelines where talent can grow and thrive.
To learn more about creating custom “grow-your-own” pipelines, starting an apprenticeship program or exploring other options, contact Kelly Pierce, senior account manager, MedCerts, [email protected] or (619) 762-5016. For more details on HASC’s collaboration with the company, visit the partnership website.