Investing in Medical Assistants: Opportunities for the Health Care Workforce.

Medical Assistant (MA) is one of the fastest growing healthcare professions, with the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics predicting MA positions will grow by 18% between 2020 and 2030. The experience and knowledge MAs gain during their education and training provide a foundation for advancement into other healthcare occupations that could be leveraged to support efforts to diversify the healthcare workforce. However, the lack of federal investment in medical assistant education and training, as well as the lack of established education and career pathways that build on medical assisting, is a missed opportunity to better meet the workforce development needs of our primary care delivery system.