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Forward2026 Impact - W66 - From Pipeline to Progression: Developing the Medical Assistant Workforce - On Demand
Healthcare organizations are rethinking how they build and sustain the medical assistant (MA) workforce by focusing on intentional, structured pathways. OSU Physicians, Inc., shares their cross-functional strategy to establish a predictable talent pipeline through aligned training and education, reduced recruiting costs, accelerated onboarding, and improved workforce readiness. Similarly, Schneck Medical Center, a rural health system, demonstrates how investing in an internally developed clinical ladder and career pathway strengthens retention, competency and care team performance. These efforts show how deliberate workforce design — from entry pathways to advancement — can stabilize staffing, support quality care, and create scalable, long-term solutions. Hear more about these approaches in practice during this panel discussion.
Handouts
Click here to access and download the handouts: https://www.vizientinc.com/Learning-center/summit
Target Audience
- Dietitians
- Healthcare Quality Professionals
- Nurses
- Pharmacists
- Pharmacy Technicians
- Physicians
- Physician Associates
- Other Healthcare Professionals
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this activity, participants should be able to:
- Explain how aligned training and education pathways can improve workforce readiness and reduce recruiting costs.
- Identify key design elements of an internally developed MA career pathway to improve retention and performance.
Course summary
Available credit:
- 0.75 AAPA CMEVizient Inc. has been authorized by the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria.
- 0.75 ACPE Pharmacist
- 0.75 ACPE Pharmacy Technician
- 0.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
- 0.75 ANCC
- 0.75 CDR
- 0.75 CPHQ – Certified Professional Healthcare Quality
- 0.08 IACET
Course opens:
10/06/2026
Course expires:
10/06/2027
FACULTY & PLANNERS
Faculty
Susan Zabor, MBA, MSN, FACHE, CSSBB, VP of Primary Care | Chief Quality Officer, Schneck Medical Center, Seymour, IN
Tory Zieske, SHRM-CP, Human Resources Associate Director, Ohio State University Physicians, Columbus, OH
Ky Jones, Associate Director, Ohio State University Physicians, Columbus, OH
Planners
Juli Hermanson, MPH, RDN, CPHQ
Course Director
AVP, Client Education
Vizient, Inc.
Adrianne Ainsworth, MBA
VP, Member Networks
Vizient, Inc.
Julie Cerese
SVP, Performance Management & National Networks
Vizient, Inc.
Donna Colby, RN, BSN, CMRP, CVAHP, FAHRMM, LHRM
Consulting Director
Vizient, Inc.
Sydnee Cruz, MBA
Sr. Education Program Manger
Vizient, Inc.
Katie Davis, DNP, MS-HSM, RN
Senior Intelligence Director, Member Networks
Vizient, Inc.
Mital Desai, PharmD
Member Networks Director
Vizient, Inc.
Cheryl Jachna, BS
Education Programs Director
Vizient, Inc.
Marilu Kelly, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, CHCP
Director, Continuing Education
Vizient, Inc.
David Levine, MD
SVP & Chief Medical Officer
Vizient, Inc.
Lindsay Mayer, RN, MSN, CPHQ
Sr Dir, Programs
Vizient, Inc.
Barbara Seymour, DNP, RN, NE-BC
VP, Member Networks
Vizient, Inc.
Kristen Sinke
VP, Implementation Services
Vizient, Inc.
Laural Whitmore, MSE
SVP, Networks: Performance Improvement Programs
Vizient Inc.
DISCLOSURE
As an accredited provider of continuing education, Vizient, Inc. is dedicated to ensuring this activity presents learners with only accurate, balanced, scientifically justified recommendations, and is free from promotion, marketing, and commercial bias. In accordance with The Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education, all planners, faculty, and others in control of the educational content have disclosed the absence or existence of all financial relationships (of any dollar amount) with ineligible companies within the past 24 months.
Ineligible companies – those companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.
It is Vizient’s policy that owners and employees of ineligible companies, and any individuals who refuse to disclose the absence or existence of financial relationships with any ineligible companies are disqualified from participating as planners or faculty.
Statement of Content Validity
Vizient, Inc. educational activities are intended to assist healthcare teams advance their professional responsibilities in accordance with the definition of continuing education. It is the policy of Vizient, Inc. to review and ensure that all content and recommendations for patient care within accredited CE is evidenced-based, based on current science and clinical reasoning while ensuring the content is fair and balanced. All recommendations must conform to the generally accepted standards of experimental design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation. Vizient, Inc. does not permit accredited continuing education if it advocates for unscientific approaches to diagnosis or therapy, or if the education promotes recommendations, treatment, or manners of practicing healthcare that are determined to have risks or dangers that outweigh the benefits or are known to be ineffective in the treatment of patients.
FDA Off-Label Use
Faculty presenters are also expected to disclose any discussion of (1) off-label or investigational uses of FDA approved commercial products or devices or (2) products or devices not yet approved in the United States.
Disclaimer
The education provided through this activity is for continuing education purposes only. The views and opinions expressed in this activity are those of the faculty/presenters and do not necessarily reflect the views of Vizient, Inc.
Disclosure Statements
Absence of Relevant Financial Relationships
None of the planners, faculty, or others in a position to control content for this educational activity have relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.
Joint Accreditation Statement
In support of improving patient care, Vizient, Inc. is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Designation Statement(s)
Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE)This activity was planned by, and for, the healthcare team, and learners will receive 0.75 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change.
Registered Dietitians/Dietetic Technicians (CDR)
The Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) accepts nutrition-and-dietetics-related continuing education credits from Jointly Accredited Providers. After completing this activity, CDR-credentialed practitioners may claim CPEUS under Activity Type 102; 1 contact hour (60 minutes) = 1 CPEU.
Nurses (CNE)
This activity is designated for 0.75 contact hours.
Pharmacists (CPE)
Vizient, Inc. designates this enduring material for a maximum of 0.75 contact hours for pharmacists.
Universal Activity Number: JA0006103-0000-26-232-H04-P
Pharmacy Technicians (CPE)
Vizient, Inc. designates this enduring material for a maximum of 0.75 contact hours for pharmacy technicians.
Universal Activity Number: JA0006103-0000-26-232-H04-T
Physicians (CME)
Vizient, Inc. designates this enduring material for a maximum of 0.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Physician Associates (AAPA)Vizient, Inc. has been authorized by the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 0.75 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. Approval is valid until October 7, 2027. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.
Healthcare Quality Professionals (CPHQ)
This activity is approved by NAHQ® for 0.75 CPHQ CE credits.
Other Healthcare Professionals (IACET)
Vizient, Inc. is Jointly Accredited by the Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Continuing Education and has been approved to offer Continuing Education Units (CEUs). CEUs are awarded for learning events that align with the ANSI/IACET Standard for Continuing Education and Training. IACET is recognized internationally as a standards development organization and accrediting body that promotes quality continuing education and training. This learning event is eligible for 0.075 Continuing Education Units (CEUs).
Available Credit
- 0.75 AAPA CMEVizient Inc. has been authorized by the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria.
- 0.75 ACPE Pharmacist
- 0.75 ACPE Pharmacy Technician
- 0.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
- 0.75 ANCC
- 0.75 CDR
- 0.75 CPHQ – Certified Professional Healthcare Quality
- 0.08 IACET
Select the Obtain Credit button to access the activity.
Please Note:
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Required Hardware/software
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