The program, primarily funded through a three-year grant from the William Penn Foundation, provides training, certification and wraparound support to job-seekers.
“I have a daughter who’s two years old who I know is looking and watching me,” said Enyjjah Johnson-Banks. “I want to be the best role model for her.” Johnson-Banks is a member of the first cohort of the Biomedical Uplift for Innovation in Local Development program, or BUILD Philly. The program, developed and run by the Lewis Katz School of Medicine (Katz), represents an opportunity to move toward a career in healthcare without putting her goals on hold. “I don’t have to wait years to start my dream,” she said.
BUILD Philly is a workforce development initiative designed to prepare young Philadelphians for careers in healthcare and biomedical fields through hands-on training, mentorship, and nationally recognized certification. The program serves Philadelphians ages 18-24 from North Philadelphia and surrounding communities, providing instruction in clinical and laboratory settings, professional development coaching, certification preparation, and direct job placement support. All costs are covered, and trainees receive stipends and wraparound support services including transportation assistance, mentorship, and childcare support when needed.
The inaugural cohort is focused on the program’s medical assistant track, with a biomedical laboratory technician track planned for the future. Program leaders say Philadelphia’s growing biotech, biopharma and research sectors create significant opportunities for workforce placement, and the program was intentionally designed to leverage Temple’s broad clinical and research infrastructure.
Building the Future Healthcare Workforce
Beyond the support provided directly to each participant, BUILD Philly reflects Temple’s broader commitment to developing the next generation of the healthcare workforce while creating meaningful opportunities for members of the communities it serves.
“Temple was founded to provide access,” said Amy J. Goldberg, MD, FACS, the Marjorie Joy Katz Dean at Katz. “We know that when we open our doors, people walk through them - and they go on to lead, heal, and make change. This program reflects our commitment to opening more doors, and to standing with our community in new and meaningful ways.”
Funding for BUILD Philly was secured through a competitive workforce development grant led by the William Penn Foundation, in partnership with Comcast, the Connelly Foundation, Future Standard, M&T Bank, and the Philadelphia Foundation. The funding partnership supports programs that link quality workforce training with supportive services so that Philadelphians can connect to quality employment pathways.
“BUILD Philly builds on years of community-based workforce and mentorship programs,” said Grace Ma, PhD, Program Director for Build Philly, Associate Dean for Population Health Research at Katz, chair of the school’s Department of Population Health Sciences and founding director of the Center for Asian Health. The program is run through Ma’s center and leverages many of the partnerships and support systems already established through Temple-led pipeline programs. “What makes this program unique is its focus on young adults who may face barriers to traditional education or employment pathways. We’re combining technical training with mentorship and wraparound support so participants can build skills, gain experience, and move confidently into careers in healthcare and biomedical fields,” said Ma.
Built on Decades of Community Partnership
The initiative builds on more than 25 years of Temple-led programs, including the Summer Cancer Research Institute, HDRI, MARC, and Proud Teens of Philly. While many of those programs focus on supporting students pursuing advanced education, BUILD Philly was intentionally designed to meet a different need: creating direct pathways into healthcare and biomedical careers for young adults who may not be pursuing college degrees.
Participants currently complete a combination of classroom instruction, hands-on training, and internship experiences across Temple Health, university laboratory settings and partnering health centers. Organizers say the future laboratory technician track will allow participants to gain experience across research labs at Katz and Temple’s Main Campus, while also creating connections with researchers, startups, and larger biotech and pharmaceutical companies across the region.
“A lot of programs train people for a certification and stop there,” said Ma. “We wanted BUILD Philly to go further — integrating technical, digital and professional development skills alongside the wraparound support participants may need to be successful. We want them to know what to expect in these settings and to feel prepared and confident entering the workforce.”
Participants also receive individualized support throughout the program, including tutoring sessions, life coaching, mentorship and professional development resources ranging from interview preparation to professional headshots and workplace attire.
“I am amazed by all the hard work that the BUILD Philly team has put into this program and the positive impact it has already made on participants just a few weeks in,” said Aisha Bhimla, assistant professor in the Department of Population Health Sciences. “I admire the thoughtfulness and commitment they bring to the program and appreciated the opportunity to learn more about their career and personal goals. I have no doubt that this training program and the services it provides will help participants thrive in their future careers.”
Graduates leave the program with nationally recognized certification and structured support pathways to transition into quality jobs, with the program’s long-term goal focused on sustained employment outcomes for at least 12 months post-completion.
“All training and certification costs are covered,” said Jade Truehart, program manager for BUILD Philly. “But beyond that, we’re providing wraparound support like help with childcare and transportation, coaching, and mentoring. We want people to succeed, and we know that means addressing real-world needs, not pretending they don’t exist.”
Listening, Reflecting and Growing
Alongside technical training, BUILD Philly incorporates an evaluation model designed to help participants reflect on their experiences and identify areas where they may need additional support throughout the program.
Lin Zhu, PhD, evaluation lead for BUILD Philly and a researcher in the Department of Population Health Sciences, said the program intentionally centers participant voices in its design.
“What really drew me to BUILD Philly is the program’s genuine commitment to listening to different voices, especially voices that don’t always get centered,” Zhu said. “Elevating authentic Philadelphian experiences feels essential to meaningful evaluation, and that’s the role I’m honored to play for BUILD Philly.”
Participants complete weekly photo reflections and are creating scrapbook-style journals documenting their experiences and personal growth throughout the program. Zhu said the reflective process is intended to support confidence, self-advocacy and long-term professional development alongside technical skill-building.
“I’m most excited for participants to feel heard, seen, and confident in their own growth,” Zhu said. “We focus on capturing real reflections and lived experiences, and then elevating those voices in ways that honor their authenticity.”
Creating Opportunity Close to Home
Recruitment for BUILD Philly is conducted through community-based organizations, schools, and local partners with longstanding ties to Philadelphia neighborhoods. Truehart, who grew up in North Philadelphia and has worked on multiple youth and young-adult- focused programs with Ma’s team at Temple, said those relationships are central to the program’s approach.
“This isn’t about parachuting into a community and offering a one-size-fits-all solution,” she said. “We’re partnering with people who already have trust and relationships, and we’re meeting participants where they are.”
For participants like Shayla Fields, the opportunity is both practical and personal. “I’m most looking forward to more hands-on learning and graduating with that certification,” she said. “Having this program for me means I’m slowly but surely working towards my goals.”
For many participants, BUILD Philly offers a chance to build momentum toward long-term goals while gaining real experience in healthcare settings.
“I applied to BUILD Philly because I felt like I owed myself something,” said participant Kamyrah Steele. “I’ve always wanted to work in the field of helping people, and this is an opportunity to do so.”
Looking Ahead
For Ma, BUILD Philly’s long-term impact will be measured not only in workforce outcomes, but in the opportunities it creates for young people across the city.
“Healthcare and biomedical careers should feel within reach for talented young people across Philadelphia,” she said. “BUILD Philly is about creating opportunity where there may not have been a clear pathway before, and helping participants leave with the skills, experience, and confidence to see themselves in these spaces.”