For Immediate Release
September 30, 2022

SUNY Suffolk Partners with Catholic Health to Provide New Health Care Employment Opportunities

From left: Suffolk County Community College President Dr. Edward Bonahue, Suffolk County Department of Labor, Licensing, & Consumer Affairs Commissioner Rosalie Drago and Catholic Health President & CEO Patrick O’Shaughnessy, DO, MBA at the announcement of the workforce development partnership to provide a career path and advancement opportunities for health care workers that will also address our region’s need for medical assistants.

Catholic Health and Suffolk County Community College (SCCC) today announced a new and innovative workforce development partnership to provide a career path and advancement opportunities for health care workers that will also address our region’s need for medical assistants. Catholic Health and SCCC anticipate this program will offer multiple benefits for patients and providers. 

“Medical Assistants provide indispensable support to our clinical teams, not only at our hospitals but also at our many physician practices and Ambulatory Care facilities,” said Catholic Health President & CEO Patrick O’Shaughnessy, DO, MBA. “By partnering with Dr. Bonahue and Suffolk County Community College, we can cultivate talent to help improve the health of Long Islanders.”

“Suffolk’s partnership with Catholic Health is a shining example of the college’s expertise in exploring an industry’s needs and then creating programs that are critical to building our regional workforce. At the same time, our participants receive the training that will improve their economic well-being and career paths,” said Suffolk County Community College President Dr. Edward Bonahue.

Suffolk’s Medical Assisting certificate program is expected to launch in November. It’s a 7.5-month course that will include 24 students in the inaugural class. The program will offer hybrid learning options, featuring online classes and in-person labs held at Suffolk’s Riverhead and Brentwood campuses. Catholic Health will offer externships at its medical offices, ambulatory centers and hospitals where each student will have a supervisor assist with the day-to-day experience to ensure a successful outcome.  Additionally, Catholic Health’s Human Resources Department will offer assistance with applications, interviews and job placement following the program. 

The program costs $2999 and students who meet certain criteria can apply for grants through the Suffolk County Department of Labor.

Suffolk County Department of Labor, Licensing, & Consumer Affairs Commissioner Rosalie Drago stated, “The Suffolk County Department of Labor is excited to work with Catholic Health and Suffolk Community College to offer our mutual constituents an innovative workforce and career training program. In keeping with the vision of Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, our efforts in this partnership shall be guided by removing workforce barriers-to-entry and supporting industry-led curriculum programming that adequately prepares the students of today to become the workforce of tomorrow. 

Individuals interested in the Medical Assisting Certificate Program can visit www.sunysuffolk.edu/ma or https://www.chsli.org/medical-assistant-program.