This fall, the Ross Medical Education Center campus in Fort Wayne, Indiana had the opportunity to engage with their community as well as each other to become more educated and involved in the healthcare community. From inviting guest speakers, to raising awareness for breast cancer research on their campus and beyond, the staff, faculty, and students in Fort Wayne have wasted no time in improving themselves and their community.
First, they had the pleasure of welcoming to their campus Melissa Scheer, a phlebotomist with a local hospital. As the Ross Medical Assistant program includes phlebotomy training, blood draws and lab techniques are an aspect of their classroom training that students love and look forward to. Melissa spoke to current students about her position and job duties. “I learned about different work we could do being a Medical Assistant and options we have; she explained herself very well,” shared current student Jessica Alvarez. It was exciting for the students to hear from someone in the field about all of the opportunities that they could pursue.
In addition to discussing her current position, Melissa spoke to the students concerning her externship when she was a student and other areas throughout her working experience. She offered helpful tips to the students about professionalism, areas of opportunity within the hospital system for a Medical Assistant, and habits to avoid while on the job. Current Medical Assistant students at the campus were thrilled to hear about the reality of what a Medical Assistant does. Medical Assistant student Marissa Novak was encouraged and said, “I learned that there’s a lot an MA can do in a hospital setting.” It was a great experience for all and the campus looks forward to inviting more healthcare professionals to share about their experiences.
Having visitors to the campus is great, but students are also encouraged to get away from the campus and out into the community to make a difference. One of the ways that the Fort Wayne campus makes a difference and educates their students each year is through raising awareness for breast cancer and participating in the Making Strides Walk. So, once again this year the Fort Wayne faculty, staff, and students participated in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk during October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Despite the somewhat brisk weather, the group had a great time showing their support for the breast cancer survivors and raising awareness for a cure. Everyone got into the pink theme, especially the students in the evening Dental Assistant class who made their own tutus for the event! This event is always a favorite and one that the campus looks forward to each year!