September 15, 2025
Building a New Chapter: How APCA’s No-Cost Training Helped One Alaskan Return to Healthcare
Kristen Coffin grew up watching her mother work as a nurse, which sparked her interest in the healthcare field at an early age. She went on to earn a degree in applied human biology from Seattle Pacific University, worked as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), and later as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).
After many years of caring for others, Kristen’s mother developed health concerns. Wanting to be close to family and help care for her mom, Kristen moved to Alaska.
“I spent about five years taking care of her and helping her with her appointments, medications, and multiple surgical procedures,” she explained. “It got to a point where it was clear that I needed to have more training.”
While looking for training programs online, Kristen discovered the Alaska Primary Care Association’s Pre-Apprenticeship in Healthcare Training (PATH).
PATH stood out to her because it was free and offered certifications in CPR, Basic Life Support (BLS), and Mandt’s Mental Health First Aid training.
“PATH was like this little beacon,” she said. “It helped me get back in the groove of working, regain my certifications, and start moving toward a career again.”
Kristen also found the instructors’ encouragement meaningful. “They truly cared about us doing well,” she said. “That made learning so much easier and motivated me to give it my all.”
After completing PATH, Kristen began Stepful — an online program that offers three career tracks to APCA program participants — and chose to pursue the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant.
Not too long after starting Stepful, Kristen’s mother passed away. While a difficult time in her life, Kristen held onto her mom’s encouragement. “My mom always told me, ‘You can do hard things,’” Kristen said. “That phrase carried me through the hardest parts of this journey.”
In June 2025, Kristen completed Stepful and accepted a position as a Certified Medical Assistant at a local clinic in Anchorage. As she steps into this new role, Kristen plans to use the new skills she gained to build meaningful connections with those she cares for.
“PATH and Stepful changed my life,” Kristen said. “They gave me the tools and confidence to be strong and independent again.”
Kristen is one of many Alaskans who have taken part in APCA’s healthcare training programs that are designed to open doors to careers and strengthen Alaska’s healthcare workforce. To learn more about APCA’s workforce programs, visit alaskahealthcarecareers.com.