Texas A&M–Kingsville, Jim Wells County celebrate first cohort of clinical medical assistants

Jim Wells County and Texas A&M University–Kingsville on Nov. 24 celebrated the first graduates of an accelerated clinical medical assistant program offered at the county annex (the former Wells Fargo bank building in Alice).

The program is part of a county–university collaboration intended to provide short-term, career-focused credentials that local residents can use to enter health-care fields and then, if they choose, pursue further degrees. Judge (name on record) said the county purchased the bank building to create space for workforce training and stressed the goal of educating residents locally so they remain in the county to work and contribute to the local economy.

Dr. Robert H. Vela, president of Texas A&M University–Kingsville, told students and court members that the certification is “step 1” on a longer career path. He said the university plans additional programming in the county that will provide pathways for medical assistants to bridge to nursing, physician assistant or medical school programs, and he referenced forthcoming workforce courses including a broadband technician and fiber-optic splicing curriculum aimed at rural South Texas.

Jeffrey R. West, chief workforce development officer, and Brenda Ballard, director of workforce training, acknowledged the role of local partners and staff in running the cohort. An instructor and students were recognized on the record and received certificates of completion; the judge invited pictures and a small reception with cake after the presentations.

Court members and university leaders framed the effort as a partnership that aims to expand training cohorts in Alice, Kingsville and neighboring areas and to create local career pathways in health care and technical trades.