Media Contacts
Carrie Burkett 603-356-5461 ext. 2264
Carrie.Burkett@MaineHealth.org
Tim Kershner 603-356-5461 ext. 2198
Timothy.Kershner@MaineHealth.org
NORTH CONWAY, NH - Sometimes it just takes a little nudge from someone else to push ourselves outside of our comfort zone. For one mother-daughter pair, they took turns nudging each other and ended up doing the same program two years apart to become medical assistants.
When Jennifer Tozier moved back east after relocating state to state as a military spouse, she was eager to find a way to integrate into the community. Tozier and her husband were looking to put down roots closer to family. Tozier’s mother, Lisa Hebert, worked as Memorial Hospital’s women’s health practice supervisor. Hebert encouraged her daughter to take a position in Memorial’s COVID-19 vaccine clinic.
“The people I worked with at the COVID clinic were great,” said Tozier. “It was actually Lawrence [Carbonaro, Memorial Hospital’s senior director of operations] who encouraged me to take on a clinical role.”
“I knew she had some clinical background,” explained Carbonaro. Tozier previously worked as an EMT in Troy, NH and a CNA in Virginia. “I saw her doing an incredible job at the clinic. She was a big part of its success. It was a temporary position and I hate to see us lose good people. I asked her if she might be interested in taking on a clinical role again.”
Tozier was inspired to look at her options and learned about Memorial’s Medical Assistant (MA) Apprentice Program. “I did have some clinical experience, but as an EMT you learn different skills. [The MA Program] teaches specific skills and it’s more comprehensive. Some people in my program were starting from ground zero, but it was nice to have some background and be able to help other people in the course.”
“We like to recruit people who have either some clinical background or strong computer skills,” said Marta Ramsey, Clinical Educator at Memorial Hospital. “It’s an entry-level program, but it is rigorous, and our students are on an accelerated track. Because we pay them for a 40-hour work week, they can fit in their academic requirements and complete their clinical hours in just nine months.”
Hebert watched her daughter thrive in the program and was thrilled when she took a position in primary care, next door to women’s health. “Jen really enjoys her job. There is always a need for MAs.”
Tozier enjoys primary care for “the chance to connect with people and build relationships with them.” She works with Dr. Angus Badger. “I love it here [in primary care]. Dr. Badger sees a lot of young kids, up to 100-year-old folks. He does all sorts of procedures-biopsies, vasectomies, I get to see such a great span of care. Dr. Badger is a great teacher, too. While he is doing procedures he is teaching at the same time.”
A year later, Hebert started to wonder if she might also be cut out for clinical work. “MAs are so hard to find. I sometimes felt so helpless. I thought, ‘Maybe I can help fill the gap?’”
When Hebert shared her idea with her daughter, Tozier immediately encouraged her mother to do the MA program. “I just felt like she would be amazing at the clinical side of things,” said Tozier. “She makes such a connection with people, and she is such a caring and compassionate person.”
Hebert had built her career as a leader in clerical and administrative roles over decades. Though she had not been to school since 1986, she felt it was exciting to start this new chapter, despite now having to think about study habits and test taking.
“Our students range from age 18 to 58,” said Ramsey. “We have students from all different backgrounds. One who was a police officer and a carpenter, another who did administrative work at a boarding school, and another who worked at a ski shop. We have others who worked different roles here at Memorial, too.”
This year’s cohort has six students. Students are hired as MA apprentices and promoted to MAs upon graduation. They are paid for full-time work and receive full benefits. Their tuition is paid in full. Part of their agreement requires them to work within the MaineHealth system for two years after graduation.
Ramsey applauds the program for its success in recruiting staff with longevity. The cohort from two years ago had eight students and seven still work here today. Because they do their clinical hours at Memorial, MA apprentices build relationships with the care team during their training.
“There is no awkward transition on their first day,” said Ramsey. “They’re already part of the team. We can place them with a provider that we know is a great fit right out of the gate. We have had such success, so we do intend to run the program again.”
The next program is not yet scheduled, but each member of the next cohort will benefit from an advocate who gives them the nudge they need to take a leap and grow into the next step in their career. To learn more about to program or to be notified when the next program will begin again, contact Marta Ramsey at marta.ramsey@mainehealth.org or 603-356-5461 ex 3319.
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About Memorial Hospital
Memorial Hospital is a not-for-profit 25-bed Critical Access Hospital located in North Conway, NH, and is a member of the MaineHealth family. Its hospital services include a 24-hour emergency department, surgery center, clinical laboratory, heart health & wellness programs, imaging services, cardiopulmonary care, family birthing center, oncology, chemotherapy and infusion services. Practices include primary care and family medicine, diabetes care, behavioral health, women's health, podiatry, orthopedics and physical therapy. Memorial Hospital is also home to The Merriman House nursing home, which provides senior care services in a comfortable, home-like setting. For more information, www.memorialhospitalnh.org or call 603-356-5461.