One of the most crucial components to having an inspirational and beneficial education is having a teacher who can motivate and lead students in the right direction. Creating a fun learning environment while staying focused on the end goal is an aspect that is often overlooked. At Ross Medical Education Center, we strive to find instructors that fit this description. Our Ross Evansville campus has been fortunate to have one instructor in particular who not only fit this description but was also nominated by students at the campus to be the Outstanding Faculty of the Year. Kendra Wagner is an instructor for the Medical Insurance Billing and Office Administration program in Evansville, Indiana. Read her interview below to gain insight on her experience at Ross Medical Education Center.
How long have you been at Ross as an instructor?
I’ve been at Ross Medical for a year and a half.
How did you get your start in education and why is it important to you?
I have always wanted to be a teacher and combining my love of medical billing and teaching just seemed perfect.
What’s your favorite thing about being an instructor at Ross?
The interactions with students and being able to present my knowledge in a fun and creative way.
What piece of advice do you try to convey to all of your students to help them succeed?
I always want to impress upon my students that this field is always changing and growing and that they can change and grow with it.
What are you passionate about personally?
My church, my family, and the New York Yankees!
Who inspires you to be great?
My mom, she has done billing for 40 years and still learns something new every day.
Share a positive memory about your experience at Ross that stands out at you. Why is that memory special to you?
My favorite memory is of my first student who graduated. She came and worked at my clinic and told me how much I have impacted her as a biller.
What inspired you to pursue a billing and medical coding career?
My mom.
What is something most people don’t know about working in the billing and medical coding field?
Most people may not be aware that it is fun and exciting and we get to help people in our own way. We are also compassionate about people.
What advice would you give to a student who is looking to become a billing and medical coder but hasn’t quite made up their mind yet?
Billing and coding is a job that is essential to the functionality of office and hospitals. We can help people by reducing the burden of dealing with insurance companies.
What is the most rewarding part of billing and medical coding?
Helping people navigate through the world of health insurance.
Nicki Eckert, the Assistant Director of Education at the Evansville campus, shared about her experience in working with Kendra Wagner:
“In my opinion, a great educator is not only one that teaches but one that cares. Kendra is the epitome of this definition. She is not only well educated in her classroom material, delivering it in an easily understood way, she also displays a nurturing, caring side that makes her more attentive to our students’ emotional needs and struggles as well. Her passion for life and, most importantly, our students is apparent in her demeanor, teaching methods, creativity, and overall attitude. I cannot think of someone more deserving of recognition than Kendra Wagner.”