IHAP & NA-C Spotlight: Antoneyah Washington
Our Learners say it best!
Antoneyah’s Success Story
Antoneyah Washington completed our Introduction to Healthcare Employment & Apprenticeship Programs (IHAP) class and the Nursing Assistant-Certified (NA-C) Training program with the desire to find a meaningful and steady job and promote equity in healthcare.
“I decided to pursue a career in healthcare because I knew it would provide longevity and I wanted to promote equality within the healthcare system.”
Antoneyah learned about the IHAP program at Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission: Hope Place, a recovery center for women. A friend at Hope Place had already completed the program and spoke highly of the opportunity. After looking into the program, Antoneyah decided it was the perfect fit for her next step in life.
Our IHAP is a Washington State Apprenticeship & Training Council registered apprenticeship preparation program that we run in partnership with Seattle Job’s Initiative and Arivva. It is provided at no cost for eligible participants. After completing IHAP in June 2025, Antoneyah went on to graduate from the Nursing Assistant-Certified Training in August 2025.
“I have overcome financial difficulties living under the poverty line, and this program gave me the opportunity to acquire new skills by funding my education.
The programs were a good fit for me due to their hybrid remote learning. This program showed me the expectations of working in the healthcare field and a realistic view of daily tasks.”
Pursuing a career in healthcare is meaningful for Antoneyah because she is committed to equitable patient care and dedicated to bringing her identity to the field.
“From my experience some people’s pain and experience can sometimes be undermined due to their appearance or ethnicity. It makes me happy to know my intention every day I get to work is to treat every patient with the utmost respect and take their concerns seriously. It also makes me proud that people that look like me can identify similarities and feel at ease when receiving care.”
With the support of these training programs, she has accomplished her goal of finding a good job with purpose. Antoneyah was hired as an endoscopic technician at the Pacific Medical Center First Hill Clinic! She encourages others to take advantage of opportunities and see if healthcare is the field for them.
“I would tell anyone interested in the NA-C program to go for it and give it your all. Investing in yourself by taking the help offered to you is the best thing you can do for yourself.”
This is just the beginning for Antoneyah. Now she dreams bigger and sets her goals even higher.
“My goal now is to attend nursing school to grow further in the healthcare industry. Thank you!”
Member Spotlight: Adil Mohamed
Our Members say it best!
Adil’s Success Story
Adil Mohamed did not take the traditional path into healthcare but has found his purpose as a Surgical Technologist and continues to learn and grow in his field with the support of Training Fund benefits.
Adil originally attended Washington State University (WSU) with another career in mind.
“My initial path was quite different, as I attended WSU for an unrelated field. I always felt a pull towards healthcare and sought a way to enter the field without undertaking another lengthy period of schooling. This led me to pursue a career as a Central Processing Technician, which served as my entry point into a hospital environment.”
When he was hired at Swedish Medical Center, he learned about the Training Fund and colleagues who had used their benefits to advance their careers. As an SEIU Healthcare 1199NW member and Swedish Medical Center employee, Adil became eligible for Training Fund benefits after his probationary period and has been a Training Fund member since 2018.
“After gaining a few years of experience, I was ready for a new challenge and decided to become a Surgical Technologist. This is where the Training Fund became incredibly crucial. It enabled me to enroll in the program at Renton Technical College with very minimal out-of-pocket expenses. The financial support and resources provided by the Training Fund were invaluable, especially as I was managing a full-time job and family, while attending school full-time. It significantly reduced the financial burden of covering college costs.”
Adil completed the Surgical Technology Certificate program at Renton Technical College at the end of summer 2019. He now works at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health St. Anne Hospital and was thrilled to still be an eligible Training Fund member through his union and employer. He has continued to use his Training Fund benefits to support his career, including reimbursement for CE membership, certification, and conferences.
“The resources and support the Training Fund offers have been instrumental in my professional growth. I’ve been able to expand my knowledge and skills, which has directly helped me take on more responsibilities and contribute to departmental improvements. The Training Fund has truly made a positive impact on my career development and has motivated me to keep advancing in my field. This definitely has been a great benefit for me!”