Kaiser Permanente is awarding Mission Language & Vocational School (MLVS) $500,000 to help the nonprofit expand its medical assistant training program for up to 300 low-income, bilingual students. Most of the money will help the nonprofit add more classrooms to accommodate a larger student population. The new classroom space was dedicated during a February 14 press conference.
“Kaiser Permanente’s mission includes supporting the well-being of the communities we serve,” said Ron Groepper, senior vice president and area manager, Kaiser Permanente Greater San Francisco Area. “This contribution provides support for critical workforce development needs in San Francisco. It helps increase access to educational services that are essential to empower underserved populations and improve the community through social, economic, and educational advancements.”
MLVS is a recognized leader in the field of medical assistant state certification and it offers a 36-week training program. The nonprofit’s bilingual Spanish-speaking students are in high demand and the program prepares them for working in hospitals and clinics. Up to 300 more students each year will be able to participate in the program thanks to the funding and ongoing partnership between MLVS and Kaiser Permanente.
“The investment and commitment from Kaiser Permanente is long standing,” said Tracy Gallardo, board president of MLVS. “These funds are helping sustain the school by empowering us to purchase more space in our current building. The investment also allows us to create computer labs and buy more medical equipment for training. Many former students are now working at Kaiser Permanente and have purchased homes, bringing them much needed financial stability.”
“Kaiser Permanente is my perfect job,” said Melissa Ruiz, a Kaiser Permanente medical assistant and MLVS graduate. “Being bilingual and from the community where I work helps the patients feel connected. My team is the best at patient care and I’m proud to be a Kaiser Permanente staff member. I get to help people every day and provide for my family.”
Besides funding the acquisition of new classroom space and equipment, Kaiser Permanente’s contribution will also help subsidize a scholarship fund that pays for students’ transportation costs, books, and medical assistant uniforms.
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 12.3 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. https://about.kaiserpermanente.org/
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It is so great that Kaiser Permanente is helping a low-income school. I attended this school many years ago and it made a big difference in my life. After attending this school, finished my medical assistant program and I was a single, low-income mother without financial resources to pay a private school. Education improved my life quality and my daughter’s life, too. Education empowered me with knowledge, skills, and aspirations for a better life. After my medical assistant program, finished a vocational nurse program and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in health education. I am thankful that MLVS gave me the opportunity to start a technical program that changed my life.