Medical Clinical Assistant Major


Welcome to the Public Health Academy, a mini-school at Franklin Learning Center Magnet High School of Philadelphia.  Our program is a competitive, academic program of study for students interested in health care fields. This instructional CTE program prepares individuals to assist physicians by performing functions related to both administrative and clinical duties of a medical office. Because our students take the national MAC-P certification exam, they are qualified to work in healthcare after high school.  Many of our students also pursue careers in nursing, medicine, pharmacology, physical therapy, or other allied health careers while working as medical assistants or phlebotomists.

Our students have the opportunity to participate and compete in HOSA Future Health Professionals on a state and national level. FLC students win multiple medals every year and serve as leaders at a local and state level. In addition, we are part of the Annenberg Symposium. Our students present their healthcare-focused research at Lankenau Hospital to a group of doctors and nurses from Mainline Health System. Our community partners, Drexel Medical School, act as mentors while our students are preparing for the presentation.

Medical/Clinical Assistant  Department Staff

  • Erin Flynn-Klepczynski MSHI, RMA has been teaching Medical Assisting at Franklin Learning Center since 2019.  Her experience includes both clinical and administrative aspects of healthcare including primary, specialty, emergency medicine, and Abdominal Organ Transplant.
  • Niema Coleman is a Registered Medical Assistant certified as Phlebotomy Technician and Cardiac Monitoring Technician with 15+ years of clinical  and administrative experiences in various healthcare, clinical, and hospital settings.

Sequence Example for Medical/Clinical Assistant  Majors

  • 9th grade – MA students take Honors Biology which includes Anatomy and Physiology as well as other Biology content.
  • 10th grade – MA students learn clinical skills needed for their junior internships and are introduced as well as many theoretical topics such as human development, medical terminology, healthcare technology, pediatrics, and geriatrics.
  • 11th grade –  MA students focus on pathology, pharmacology, infection control, medical law, and ethics. In addition, students are able to work with nurse preceptors at our multiple internship sites.
  • 12th grade – MA students prepare for all clinical and administrative aspects of being a Medical Assistant. At the end of the third year, students sit for the MAC-P through AMCA that includes phlebotomy certification.

Apply to FLC’s Medical/Clinical Assistant CTE Program for the 2024-25 School Year:

  1. Complete the School District of Philadelphia School Selection Application
    use FLC’s Medical Assisting Code: 229H

In order to be considered for admission at FLC, you must submit the online high school application on the Philadelphia School District website