Upper Peninsula Regional Center Winter Update

CMA Graduate and Upper Peninsula Regional Center CMA Apprenticeship Info Session

Please help us recognize a recent CMA Apprentice for successfully completing the UP AHEC CMA Apprenticeship Program coursework and successfully passing her national certification exam! The Upper Peninsula Regional Center (UPRC) CMA Program has now successfully graduated 8 learners, there are currently 5 enrolled in the coursework/on-the-job training, and 2 in the pipeline. UP AHEC will be hosting a virtual CCMA Apprenticeship Program info session on Tuesday, March 18th from 6-7 pm. If you’re interested in attending to learn more, please fill out the registration form: https://forms.office.com/r/hyA0JMYEZs. 

Mind Trekkers

On December 10th UPRC attended the 2024 OneUP Copper Trails Mind Trekkers Festival at Michigan Tech University which reached over 500 western UP middle school students. The event offered dozens of hands-on HSTEM career exploration activities intended to create curiosity and spark interest! 

The Future of Rural Medicine 

On December 19th UPRC hosted the virtual “Future of Rural Medicine” presentation in collaboration with faculty and administration from Michigan State University College of Human Medicine UP Campus and Marquette Family Medicine Residency Program, along with 4th year Medical Student Karmyn Vickery (Polakowski), and 3rd Year Resident Physician, Erin McKenzie. The purpose was to introduce regional high school students interested in health careers with a general overview of the pathway to rural primary care medicine, local success stories, informal Q&A, and opportunities that are available to help them along the way right here in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Ninety-two (92) health career/occupations students across the UP attended the virtual event. We hope the event creates curiosity and inspires our own local youth to pursue medicine or another career in primary care. The event was recorded and will be available to be shared at a later date. 

UPRC Dental Assistant Apprenticeship Program Graduates

Please help us recognize Kayla Short, DA and Mary Grathoff, DA for successfully completing the UPRC Dental Assistant Apprenticeship Program coursework and the Michigan Dental Association Dental Assistant Radiography course! Congratulations and very well done, Kayla and Mary! Huge shout out to Dr. Eden Leonard, Alexis Onkalo, DA, and the whole Calumet Dental Team for your assistance in making this happen! 

Northern Michigan University Career Fair

Shelby Santti, Workforce Development Manager and Sharon Shifflette, Workforce Development Coordinator attended the Northern Michigan University Career Fair on Wednesday, February 26th to represent UPRC and host partner Upper Great Lakes Family Health Center (UGL). They shared open positions at UGL, scholarship and loan repayment program opportunities available to primary care students/health care providers, and community based student experience and health career preparation and promotion opportunities.