Scott Comes Full Circle in Return to Caring for Patients

A partnership between Nashville State and Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) is making it possible for students to receive a certification as a medical assistant in only 12 weeks.

One such student is DeVita Scott a graduate of the program now working as a medical assistant at a primary care clinic in Green Hills.

“It was a great program,” Scott said. “They’re making sure you know what you need to know.”

Scott, a transplant from New Orleans, came to Nashville in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. In New Orleans, she worked as a certified medical assistant, but when she relocated, she decided to pursue other opportunities. Caring and helping patients was never far from her.

Deciding to return to her roots in healthcare, she joined UpRise Nashville, a career training program in Nashville. Though she had previously worked as a medical assistant in New Orleans, due to the length of time and relocation her previous certification had lapsed. 

Wanting to become recertified and improve her skills she applied to the Medical Assistant program through Nashville State’s Center for Workforce Development and Continuing Education and VUMC. After applying Scott went through an interview process and was ultimately selected into the program.

With the shortened time frame, the program is rigorous and requires dedication, but Scott says it is worth it. “You have to make sure you put your time in to study and prepare.”

“We had good instructors and what you learned in the classroom prepared you,” Scott said.

With the mix of classroom time and clinical practice, Scott said she felt confident after graduating the program.

“I was prepared and I was more comfortable because of what I learned in the classroom at Nashville State.”

For John Cunningham and the Center for Workforce Development and Continuing Education at Nashville State, preparing students for life after the classroom is critical.

“We want to offer direct to employment opportunities for our students that complement our traditional college offerings and support the collective mission of the school,” Cunningham, who is the director of healthcare partnerships, said. “It signals to the community that we are making a unique investment in students.”

In the two years that the medical assistant partnership with Vanderbilt has existed, there have been over 100 students graduate.

Additionally, Vanderbilt has seen an 88% workforce retention rate with graduates staying in medical assistant jobs within the Vanderbilt system.

“I really think that speaks to the fact that we’re getting candidates that are meeting expectations and fulfilling their roles and being contributors that are open to learning,” Cunningham said. “We want to set these students up for success.”

For graduates like DeVita Scott the program has allowed her to return to her passion for caring for people. “It’s coming full circle for me,” Scott said. “It’s really been a great thing to be able to come back. I enjoy patient care and interacting with my patients.”

“They (Nashville State) really made us feel welcome. I’m very grateful and blessed to have found it,” Scott said.

As Middle Tennessee continues to grow and with Nashville being a national leader in healthcare, educating and training students like DeVita Scott remains a priority for Nashville State.

And, as the partnership between Nashville State and VUMC continues to flourish, more and more students will have the opportunity to find fruitful careers and become lifelong learners.