The Tampa City Council is celebrating the ultimate medical academy

Tampa, Florida, June 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Tampa City Council made a special recommendation during its meeting on Thursday, June 20, recognizing and celebrating Ultimate Medical Academy’s 30th year of preparing students for much-needed jobs in healthcare. healthcare.

Councilman Luis Viera, District 7, initiated the recommendation, which was subsequently endorsed by all Council members.

“The strength of a community depends on the health and well-being of its people,” said Council Member Viera. “As Tampa’s population continues to grow and demand for healthcare services exceeds current supply, we need more educated, caring individuals to pursue a career in healthcare. That’s where Ultimate Medical Academy comes in.”

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that there will be nearly 17 million new and open healthcare jobs between 2021 and 2031.

Founded in Tampa Bay and operating since 1994, UMA is a nonprofit, accredited institution of higher education with a mission to equip and empower students to excel in healthcare careers. It specializes in programs for allied health care positions such as phlebotomists, nursing assistants, medical assistants, mental health assistants, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and more.

According to a 2022 survey by AMN Healthcare, 85% of healthcare facilities are currently facing a shortage of allied health professionals.

“These are the essential workers who can check your vital signs, take blood samples, prepare your medications or respond to your call for an ambulance,” said UMA President Tom Rametta. “They are the backbone of our country’s health care system, and we desperately need more of them. At UMA, our team members – more than 1,000 of whom live in the Tampa Bay area – are deeply passionate about preparing and supporting students to meet that growing need.”

In its 30 years of operation, UMA has grown from a small campus in Clearwater, Florida, to an institution serving more than 18,000 students nationwide, spanning multiple campus locations in Tampa Bay and other parts of the country, as well as a robust online campus. . The school has more than 85,000 graduates nationwide, including more than 13,000 in Tampa Bay, who have gone on to work for hundreds of community health care employers, including organizations such as Tampa General Hospital, BayCare, Bayfront Health and the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay.

UMA works directly with healthcare employers to understand their talent needs, match qualified graduates with open positions and develop programs to meet their most pressing needs.

For example, in partnership with the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, UMA launched a new internship program in 2022 to help meet the urgent need for EMTs in the community. In its first year, the program put 50 new EMTs on Tampa roads, and is on track to add another 100 this year.

The majority of UMA students are mature students with some work experience in other sectors, who have decided to pursue a new career in healthcare. As non-traditional learners, many work full-time and have family responsibilities while pursuing their education.

UMA’s model is specifically designed to support these unique learners through accessible, asynchronous programs that allow for scheduling flexibility and through wraparound support services to help students overcome obstacles outside the classroom that can hinder academic success.

“We believe in a ripple effect of care,” says Rametta. “It starts with caring for our team members who are empowered to care for our students, and who then go on to care for patients in our communities. We’re excited to celebrate 30 years of impact, but that ripple effect is just beginning. There is a growing need for healthcare professionals, and we strive to meet that need as much as possible, now and well into the future.”

About Ultimate Medical Academy

The need for skilled healthcare workers in the United States continues to grow. Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA) is an accredited, nonprofit educational institution that helps meet this need by equipping and empowering students to do essential work at the heart of healthcare. In addition to offering diploma and training courses, UMA works closely with healthcare companies to connect students directly with vacancies.

Based in Tampa, Florida, and in business for 30 years, UMA offers hands-on learning at its main campus in Clearwater, Florida, as well as content-rich, interactive programs through its online campus. The institution supports students every step of their journey with access to academic support, interview and resume coaching, job search assistance, technical support and more.

UMA has more than 85,000 alumni and more than 14,000 students nationally. The institution also provides annual certified continuing medical education (CME) through ongoing training and professional development opportunities to physicians, nurses and other medical professionals across the US.

UMA is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES, www.ABHES.org). The continuing medical education programs are individually accredited and are not subject to the institution’s accreditation by ABHES. For more information, visit www.ultimatemedical.edu

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• The Tampa City Council recognizes UMA’s 30th anniversary

• The Tampa City Council recognizes UMA’s 30th anniversary