Alexandra Joseph fled Haiti two years ago after years of violence that targeted doctors in her home country. She arrived in Michigan with limited English and a dream of becoming a pediatrician again. Today she works as a medical assistant with Corewell Health, and she says the moment she put her stethoscope back around her neck felt like regaining a superpower.

"I didn't use it since the two years that I've been here, and I'm feeling so happy, and I say 'I'm happy to get my baby on my neck again,'" Joseph said, according to FOX 17.

Joseph is one of more than 100 people helped by the My Impact program at the Literacy Center of West Michigan, a two-year-old initiative that connects immigrant healthcare workers to medical jobs in Michigan. The program offers English language classes, proficiency building, and career certification training.

"We have amazing, skilled healthcare professionals from their home country here who want to work in these positions, and we were able to help connect them to these positions through language classes, proficiency building, and then also career certification training," said Melissa Reddy, program coordinator for the Literacy Center of West Michigan.

The need is significant. According to the Michigan Health and Hospital Association, there are 23,000 open positions at Michigan hospitals alone. Reddy told FOX 17 that patients often wait months to get appointments because of the provider shortage.

"The community benefits when we have programs like this. Currently, people call physicians or doctors' offices, and they may wait months to get an appointment because there's such a lack of providers available," Reddy said.

A physician's journey from Haiti to Wyoming

Joseph came to Michigan seeking safety and opportunity. She said she was a victim of violence multiple times in Haiti, where doctors were kidnapped and killed.

"I was victim many times, and I have to leave my country because we kidnapped doctor, we killed doctor, and I didn't feel safe in my country," Joseph said.

When she arrived, her limited English made it nearly impossible to work in medicine.

"It was like a beginner, because I can say I and understand something," Joseph said.

She spent six months in the My Impact program. After graduating, she earned a position as a medical assistant with Corewell Health. Joseph now lives in Wyoming, a suburb near Byron Center.

"I can say the literacy center gave me all the English that I need to work right now, because before that, is why I went into the medical field, because I didn't have enough English," Joseph said.

Funding supports the mission

The Literacy Center of West Michigan also received a $10,000 grant from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation in May 2026. The grant was part of more than $280,000 in literacy funding distributed to Michigan schools, libraries, and nonprofit organizations.

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation has made grants since 1993. According to the foundation's announcement, the Michigan awards are expected to affect more than 9,600 people across the state.

"Since the foundation's inception in 1993, our focus has remained on making meaningful investments in students, teachers and the organizations that support literacy and learning at every stage of life," said Denine Torr, executive director of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation.

Joseph said the journey has been extraordinary.

"It's like a dream for me," she said.

The My Impact program continues to accept applicants. Those interested in learning more can visit the Literacy Center of West Michigan website or contact the organization directly.