Bronson Healthcare Ranked 77th alongside International Corporations for Employee Training & Development

Photographed left to right are members of Bronson's Center for Learning

and Human Resources teams: Jackie Ries, Richard Szwaja, Beatrice Orns,

Brett Pearce, Mary Schabes, Trey Mitchell, Cheryl Johnson

Bronson Healthcare is the recent recipient of a prestigious Apex Award from Training Magazine. Training Apex Awards are a worldwide ranking of organizations that demonstrate exceptional commitment to employee training and development. By recognizing the organizations with the most successful learning and development programs worldwide, these awards distinguish the best of the best. Bronson was ranked #77 amongst the 105 awarded organizations.

The Training APEX Awards is the only awards program that ranks companies unsurpassed in harnessing human capital. The Training APEX Awards ranking is determined by assessing a range of qualitative and quantitative factors, including:

• Financial investment in employee development
• Scope of development programs
• How closely development efforts are linked to business goals and objectives
• Development program effectiveness in terms of behavior change and business impact

“At Bronson, we are committed to being an exceptional place not only for patients to receive quality healthcare services, but for people to work,” explains Cheryl Johnson, chief people officer for Bronson Healthcare. “We have a robust training program for new employees, and strive to provide opportunities for team members to grow their skillset and develop into new roles.”

Some of the most compelling reasons why Bronson was named a recipient of the Training magazine APEX Award include:

• Putting a strategic emphasis on ‘people’:
  • ‘People’ is the first pillar on Bronson’s strategic plan.
  • Cheryl Johnson was hired as Bronson’s first chief people officer (CPO) in 2021. In this role she works alongside the executive team to champion employee growth and engagement.
• Teams dedicated to employee growth:
  • In addition to a comprehensive Human Resources department (recruitment, compensation and benefits, and employee relations), Bronson has Clinical Education and Education Services departments, as well as a Center for Learning. These teams are focused on providing training, development and learning opportunities for all employees during all phases of their career.
• Training opportunities throughout the employment lifecycle:
  • All new hires go through an initial in-depth orientation where they gain a comprehensive understanding of the healthcare industry, Bronson’s culture and the resources available to help them be successful at work.
  • Clinical teammates undergo additional training and several weeks of 1:1 guidance to validate learning and preparedness to complete their job well.
  • When employees become leaders, they enter a year-long learning series to inspire competent, confident and collaborative leadership skills. Experienced leaders can re-attend the new leader series or apply to the advanced leader series that focuses on emotional intelligence and advanced leadership practices.
  • In addition to required training, all employees can sign up for 20+ professional development classes, with topics ranging from crucial conversations and work-life balance to preventing workplace violence and active shooter training.
• Clinical assistant role:
  • During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bronson noticed that many key front-line clinical staff – like medical assistants (MAs) – were leaving their jobs. In an effort to mitigate the issue and find individuals to fill these crucial roles on the healthcare team, Bronson applied for and received a State of Michigan GoingPRO Grant. This grant provided funding to begin an in-house training program to recruit and grow individuals into crucial MA roles. Though they do not have prior healthcare experience, these new hires undergo abbreviated classroom learning, followed by in-depth hands-on learning. This program opened up new career pipelines and removed the need for potential candidates to have to pay for schooling upfront before being guaranteed a job. 

“We are always striving for excellence,” explains Mary Schabes, system director for Bronson’s Center for Learning. “This award is a recognition to every member of our team – both those who work on the back end of our training initiatives as well as those who are actively participating. Together, the work we all put in helps advance the health of our communities.”

Learn more about the award at trainingmag.com.

For individuals looking to join Team Bronson – a Forbes Best-in-State Employer – visit bronsonhealth.com/careers.

About Training Magazine

Training magazine is the leading business publication for learning and development and HR professionals. It has been the ultimate resource for innovative learning and development—in print, in person, and online—over the last 55-plus years. Training magazine and Training magazine events are produced by Lakewood Media Group.