‘Earn and learn’ health care pathway in Florence gets $50K grant to grow opportunities

Florence resident and former firefighter John-Michael Stutler always had a passion for medicine, but growing up in a low-income household, he believed that becoming a doctor was only a “rich person’s game.” After his wife raised concerns about his health and safety while being a firefighter, he decided to give a career in medicine another shot. That’s when he found the MUSC Health Florence Medical Center’s Patient Care Technician (PCT) training apprenticeship program that gave him a way to ‘learn and earn.’

“I really liked that it was an earn-and-work style. It is a genuine apprenticeship. That's not very readily seen anymore, especially not in the health care field,” said Stutler. “So, I didn’t have to worry about working while also trying to get certification to get into the hospital and going to school all at the same time.”

Launched in May of 2023, MUSC Health Florence Medical Center’s PCT apprenticeship provides aspiring health care professionals a direct pathway to employment and career advancement, all while being paid to learn. PCTs first obtain their certified nursing assistant (CNA) certification, and when they begin working in a hospital setting, they take on the title of patient care technician. While they meet South Carolina's certification requirements, hospitals allow them to perform more advanced duties than they typically would in a doctor's office or long-term care facility.

Now, thanks to a $50,000 grant from the Truist Foundation, the PCT program is set to expand. The funding supports the OneMUSC Workforce Development Initiative, which aims to address health care workforce challenges in South Carolina, particularly in rural and underserved areas. This funding will be used to pay for educational expenses like learning management systems and other equipment necessary for training. LeeAnn Weaver-Hayes, workforce development manager for the MUSC Health Florence, Marion and Black River medical centers, said funding like this is essential to increasing  health care employment in the area.

“There is such a community need in all our areas for programs like this, especially in underserved populations. People in our communities are looking for opportunities like these,” said Weaver-Hayes. “The Truist Foundation awarding us $50,000 takes us to the next level because we're always looking for funding to keep things moving and to keep growing.”

In collaboration with many community, cross-sector, and interagency partners, the MUSC Health Workforce Development team has identified resources to train and retain more physicians, nurses and technicians in South Carolina. The OneMUSC Workforce Development Initiative seeks to add multiple critical and priority occupations through the existing MUSC Health-registered apprenticeship and has set a goal of adding 360 patient care technicians over a three-year period, beginning in 2027. 

Because of this program, Stutler’s transition into pre-med was much easier, giving him the jump-start he needed to pursue his goal of becoming a medical doctor. He is one of many community members who have benefited from MUSC Health Florence Medical Center’s PCT training apprenticeship, and he hopes there will be many more to come. 

“For everyone – from students, single parents, or someone who might want to transition into a hospital setting, I think it's a wonderful program that can offer not only employment but greatly benefit the patients,” said Stutler. “With this program, I no longer feel like I'm on unstable ground. I feel like I can finally focus on getting to where I want to be. I don't have to worry about bouncing back and forth and being able to make ends meet.”

For more information on the PCT apprenticeship, please reach out to Hanna Kincaid at kincaidh@musc.edu or Sheyonne Joe at joes@musc.edu.