Melanie Shearer, MS, MLS, PBT, CMA, CCMA, CET

2026 RECIPIENT

TKoster’s Charitable Innovative Health Care Award

“Technology-Enhanced Student Health Access and Needs-Informed Health Literacy Initiative”

Melanie Shearer is a tenured associate professor in the Health Professions and Nursing Division at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C), where she teaches in the medical laboratory technology and medical assisting programs. With more than 25 years of combined experience in health care and higher education, she is dedicated to preparing the next generation of allied health professionals through rigorous, competency-based instruction. Her courses blend foundational science with real-world application to equip students for careers that directly impact patient health outcomes. In addition to her work at Tri-C, Melanie serves as a remote educator at Stepful, Inc., expanding access to allied health education beyond the traditional classroom. She is also a member of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) and the Ohio State Society of Medical Assistants (OSSMA), where she is a past president.

About the Project:
Although clinical services are newly available through the Care Alliance @ Metro campus clinic, many students face barriers related to limited awareness, uncertainty about how to access care, and lack of understanding regarding appropriate service utilization. This project will address these barriers through a two-phase pilot. Phase one is a targeted student health needs and access assessment using surveys and focus groups to identify knowledge gaps, utilization patterns, and perceived barriers to care. Phase two will leverage assessment findings to develop and deploy low-cost, technology-enhanced health literacy and access tools, including QR-code-based access points delivered through existing high-visibility campus monitors and printed placards placed throughout campus facilities. Digital health literacy content will be integrated into nursing and health professions student onboarding and medical assisting coursework to ensure early and sustained exposure to health care access information.