About Us

Simonida Cvejic launched Bay Area Medical Academy (BAMA) in 2004 to both fill the need for the increasing demand for healthcare training, and also to run a business with principles that reflected her own work ethic and values. Simonida had experienced the challenges of working in the high-powered world of finance and could see that when businesses focused solely on the bottom line, people suffered. This cycle had to stop, so she created BAMA to give students a leg up in life, and everyone that works with her carries with them the mantra: How can I help?

Always persistent and confident in her vision, Simonida incubated BAMA at the Renaissance Center, a local entrepreneurship center funded by the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development. Then, through a series of loans from Opportunity Fund, a microfinance organization, Simonida and her dedicated team were able to grow the school from a single, shared classroom space to two campuses with well-appointed classrooms and the latest medical equipment.

We provide a nurturing learning environment where every student receives personalized attention. Our staff, instructors, and administrators know every student by their first name. We structure our classes to ensure hands-on learning and provide additional coaching and lab practice hours for students in need.

We not only prepare our students for successful entry into the medical field but also develop a lasting bond with each throughout their careers.

Core Values

We:

• BUILD COMMUNITES - within and outside the organization
• COLLABORATE - to deliver value and service to each customer leveraging the Team
• MOTIVATE and empower to personal best, both employees and students
• ADVANCE with AUTHENTICITY AND INTEGRITY
• LEAD THE WAY – we constantly innovate, we have made accredited career-training programs affordable

We take pride in the quality of our instructors. Our courses are taught by a knowledgeable staff of registered nurses, clinical laboratory technicians and other healthcare professionals, each with more than twenty years of experience.

On-the-job Clinical Training is integral to the success of our training programs. Put together in collaboration with employers, externships allow job-seekers an opportunity to test the practical skills learned in class and to “interview on the job.”

We believe in the principle of “paying it forward” and wish to contribute in every way possible to strengthening the San Francisco Bay Area community.

To that end, we offer discounted tuition to non-profit, community-based organizations working to alleviate poverty and assist individuals on public assistance to become increasingly self-sufficient.

We strive for a world where everyone is given equal opportunities to succeed and move up the economic ladder and we believe that healthcare training is the best way to achieve this. Success in life is largely determined by the quality of education, but that doesn’t necessarily mean a four-year degree. Today’s economy allows people with technical skills and problem solving abilities opportunities to advance their lives and careers. We want to level the playing field.

We are an approved training provider for Workforce Investment Act (WIA) agencies, the Employment Development Department (EDD), Work2Future, PeninsulaWorks, the Department of Rehabilitation and many other government agencies. We have worked with the International Rescue Committee, Next Step Center, Positive Resource Center and other non-profit and community based organizations. At any time, we encourage you to contact us with any questions.

Benefits Corporations are a new kind of corporations for a new economy. B Corps create higher quality jobs and improve the quality of life in our communities. Bay Area Medical Academy is in the 10% highest ranked certified B-corps according to their rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.

If you’re interested in learning more about careers in Healthcare and exploring whether Bay Area Medical Academy is right for you, fill out the form on this page to receive more information.

For immediate questions, call 415-217-0077