Sessions of 2026 Connection Conference: Jeffrey Wooley

Wooley, Jeffrey

Operations Manager

Jeffrey Wooley serves as an Operations Manager with the Arizona Department of Health Services and is a Nationally Certified Medical Assistant through the American Medical Technologists (AMT). He is widely recognized for his commitment to dedication, service, and excellence across both public service and healthcare administration. A decorated U.S. Army combat veteran, Jeffrey brings a mission-driven perspective shaped by more than 13 years of military service and over 23 years of progressive leadership in healthcare management. His work emphasizes the impact of strong organizational standards and the importance of investing in a highly skilled healthcare workforce. Jeffrey holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Northern Arizona University. As a former Medical Assistant instructor, he demonstrated a deep passion for healthcare education and workforce development. Under his guidance, students achieved an exceptional 96 percent national exam pass rate for the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) credential. Many of his former students have gone on to successful careers as Medical Assistants, Practice Administrators, nurses, and physicians, often crediting Jeffrey’s instruction and mentorship as pivotal in shaping their professional paths. In this presentation, Jeffrey will address the essential components needed to strengthen Medical Assistant education and ensure graduates are fully prepared for today’s workforce. His session will focus on: • Test validation and the importance of reliable, competency-based assessments that accurately measure student performance. • Externships as critical experiential-learning opportunities that bridge classroom instruction with real clinical practice. • The need for a comprehensive, industry-approved skills checklist to promote consistency, accountability, and workforce readiness across training programs. Through his insights, Jeffrey highlights how validated assessments, meaningful externship experiences, and standardized skills expectations work together to develop confident, capable, and patient-centered Medical Assistants who can meet the evolving needs of the healthcare industry.