Lizbeth
Before joining the Apprenticeship Program (AP) at Shawnee Health, Lizbeth had taken classes at John A. Logan College for sonography. She knew that she wanted a career in healthcare, but was trying to find the right path. Lizbeth decided to go with the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant AP program at Shawnee Health and enrolled in September 2024.
“I found out about this program through a friend of mine, and I also looked at SIH, because I knew they had a program for Surgical Techs. It was between those two. I ended up deciding to go with this program, and I have loved it since I started,” Lizbeth says
“The online classes were very manageable for me. It was kind of ‘at your pace,’ but still having those deadlines. I had no problem turning anything in and doing clinicals. My clinicals were originally based at Marion Medical. That’s where I started, then they found employment for me here at the OB-GYN in Carbondale,” Lizbeth explains.
Through AP grant funding, Man-Tra-Con was able to pay for Lizbeth’s scrubs and a new stethoscope.
Lizbeth talks about what she liked best about the AP program at Shawnee Health. “I really liked getting to know the other students. This program includes students from all different states, so whenever they did Zoom sessions or presentations with other students, I thought it was really cool to get everyone’s different perspective,” Lizbeth says.
“I had a good team for group projects. Everyone would show up for morning presentations, so I was lucky with that. Kim (another AP participant at Shawnee Health) was in that group as well, so it was good to have someone familiar in the program with me. We were in the same clinic at Marion Medical. Homework was sometimes challenging if I didn’t understand something, but my go to person was Kim. We would always communicate,” Lizbeth adds.
Lizbeth has been working full-time at Shawnee OB-GYN in Carbondale, Illinois, as a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant since completing her clinical hours. In March 2026, she received a Certificate of Completion from the U.S. Department of Labor.
“I really like this job. I really loved the transition from primary medical care to OB. OB is what I really, really, like. I am just happy I was fortunate enough to be at this location. I love seeing the patients coming in, and the transition from someone being pregnant, to seeing sonograms, and then having a baby,” Lizbeth says.
“Before this program, I didn’t have any experience in healthcare. Now that I have this under my belt, if I want to pursue LPN, RN, or go back to school for sonography, I already have some information from this clinic for that,” Kim explains.
Lizbeth has advice for future AP participants. “I would advise finding a buddy. Kim and I were lucky enough to have each other, to be able to meet, study, and do homework together,” Lizbeth says.
“It will be worth it in the end. It gets you to a first step in health care—a foot in the door. It’s a good program if you want to test the water to see if a career in healthcare is right for you.,” Lizbeth adds.