University of Mary Washington’s Office of Continuing and Professional Studies has been awarded a GO Virginia Region 6 grant to support the development and launch of a new Practice Management Certificate Program. This initiative marks the first GO Virginia grant awarded in the healthcare cluster in the Commonwealth, with the program positioned to be a model for the region and for the state.
“UMW has been one of the leaders in workforce development for the region’s healthcare sector, and this grant expands that work and opportunity, in partnership with local healthcare leaders,” said Director of Continuing and Professional Studies Teresa Segelken. “It shows our shared focus on investing in a healthy community and in a well prepared, flexible healthcare workforce across all of Region 6.”
GO Virginia Region 6 includes the Fredericksburg region, Northern Neck and the Middle Peninsula. The state-led initiative focuses on creating private sector jobs in high-paying, high-growth industries by facilitating collaboration among each region’s government, education and business leaders.
“The GO Virginia Region 6 Council is proud to have successfully submitted the first GO Virginia planning grant application focused on healthcare to the state GO Virginia Board. With approval of this grant and by working with the University of Mary Washington we will be increasing the amount of qualified healthcare workers in the region, which, in turn, will support the growth of our targeted industry sectors. This project will not only pilot a new program for Practice Management Certification but will also provide necessary research and data on the need of healthcare professionals to support the economic growth of the entire region,” said GO Virginia Region 6 Council Chair John Anzivino.
The $78,000 grant will fund a two-phase initiative. The first phase, beginning in the coming weeks, will focus on research to assess how the current healthcare infrastructure impacts business growth and development across Region 6. The second phase will pilot a credentialing course for Medical Office Managers, designed to enhance the operational efficiency of medical practices and improve access to care. The course is expected to open for registration in spring 2026 through UMW’s Continuing and Professional Studies webpage. The Practice Management Certificate will be in partnership with the Practice Management Institute, a nationally recognized credentialing body.
UMW’s Continuing and Professional Studies will leverage its expertise in business acumen to ensure participants leave the program as experts in running and leading efficient medical offices. The GO Virginia grant will fund the program director, researcher, adjunct instructors, general classroom materials and marketing of the program. Mary Washington Healthcare provided the required non-state financial match for the grant, underscoring the strong regional support for the program from healthcare providers, businesses and local governments.
“This partnership between Mary Washington Healthcare and the University of Mary Washington, supported by GO Virginia, represents a powerful step forward in strengthening our region’s healthcare infrastructure,” said Mary Washington Healthcare SVP and Chief Human Resources Officer Joanne Huber-Sturans. “By upskilling practice managers, we’re not only improving day-to-day efficiency and patient access, but we’re also investing in a healthier, more resilient community, which lays the groundwork for long-term economic growth across our community.”
For updates on the program and registration details, interested individuals are encouraged to follow UMW Continuing and Professional Studies.
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