Davenport University partnered with Kent ISD students to create this video highlighting the partnership.

Davenport University is addressing the healthcare worker shortage in Michigan by expanding opportunities for high school students through its partnership with the Kent ISD Center. The Davenport Early College program offers high school juniors and seniors the chance to earn 11 college credits in the healthcare field at no cost while gaining hands-on clinical experience and preparing for certification as a certified clinical medical assistant.

According to the 2026 Michigan Healthcare Workforce Index, Michigan is expected to face a significant shortage of home health and personal care aides, with an estimated 146,619 additional workers needed over the next decade to keep up with growing patient demand. The report also found the cost of education and training was a barrier to job growth across many healthcare occupations.

“In just about every healthcare setting, certified clinical medical assistants play an important role in patient care,” said Valarie Johnson, Davenport associate department chair and program director, Allied Health. “At Davenport, we’re addressing these workforce challenges head-on by exposing high school students to the healthcare field early on and helping them build a foundation for future growth.”

The students from Kent ISD Center take classes on Davenport’s W.A. Lettinga Grand Rapids Campus in both classroom and lab settings. Davenport instructors teach classes focused on clinical laboratory procedures, patient care and CPR/First Aid.

Layla Dudley, a student in the medical assistant program, said “I appreciate learning all the basics such as nutrition, anatomy and physiology. That’s the academic foundation that I’ll be needing in the medical field.”

“I would like to become a medical assistant,” Dudley said. “In the future, I would like to further my education and become a licensed practical nurse.”

Abigayle Putnam, another medical assistant program student, said “I love how our classroom is set up like a doctor’s office so we can get that hands-on experience and understand what it’s like in the real world.”

Putnam said she’d really like to be a pediatrician. “Being able to make a difference in someone’s life is really important and special.”

Davenport’s program offers unique features such as small cohorts and consistent faculty involvement to create a supportive environment that promotes engagement, retention and academic success. The program also provides a seamless college-to-career pathway, allowing students to earn college credits in high school and continue into associate and bachelor’s degree programs at Davenport University.

“Unlike many programs where substitute instructors may be used during absences, Davenport’s medical assisting program ensures continuity of instruction by having the program director step in when needed,” said Johnson. “This continuity helps students build confidence in their academic abilities while developing the professional skills needed to succeed in healthcare settings.”

The success of the partnership extends beyond the classroom, Johnson said.

“Kent ISD staff, the instructor, and the medical assisting program director maintain regular communication throughout the academic year to support student success,” said Johnson. “This collaborative approach allows the team to monitor student progress, address challenges proactively and ensure students receive the academic and personal support needed to thrive. The result is a highly engaged partnership focused on helping students achieve their educational and career goals.”

Davenport partners with various Michigan districts and ISDs to offer pathways for students to earn college credits and credentials before graduation. Programs are available in accounting, business administration, finance, legal studies, cyber defense and other fields, in addition to healthcare.

Hudson Bigford, another student in the medical assistant program, said the clinical experience has been one of the program’s highlights. “My favorite part about this program is all the hands-on learning that we’re doing,” he said.

For more information on Davenport University’s Early Middle College programs, click here. 

For information on Kent ISD CTE’s Certified Clinical Medical Assistant program, click here.