During Medical Assistant Recognition Week, Robin Lee, a Ross Medical Education Center graduate, spoke to both the morning and evening Medical Assistant classes in Port Huron, Michigan. Robin decided to start off with her journey through the medical field that led her to Ross. She began her career in the medical field as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). She expressed how it had been her dream job, and she remained an EMT for 17 years until a shoulder injury put an end to her career. At this unexpected roadblock, she wondered what her next steps would be. Little did she know, her mother-in-law would provide the answer.
While visiting a local physician, Robin’s mother-in-law was so impressed with the healthcare professional who roomed her that she decided to ask where she had studied. The Medical Assistant replied that she had attended Ross Medical Education Center in Port Huron. This information was passed on to Robin who quickly made an appointment to sign up for classes.
Throughout the program, Robin was a positive role model for her classmates and one of Port Huron’s biggest supporters. She was invited to the 2014 annual graduation ceremony as a guest speaker. Her speech was heartfelt and sincere; during it she thanked her family and Ross for supporting her every step of the way.
As a special guest speaker for Medical Assistant Recognition Week, Robin shared how she has used every skill she learned at Ross to some degree on her externship and at the office she is currently employed with. She told the students to listen to their instructors and learn everything they can while in class. She explained how these learned skills are the basis for everything they will do and reminded the students that they will build on their skill level while on externship and later in the field.
After hearing her speak, Megan Barnhart, a Medical Assistant student, asked, “was it difficult to transition from the externship to a ‘real’ job?” Robin’s response was simple, “my transition was not difficult. Ross provided me with the necessary skills to ease into a medical assisting position.” The students were very engaged in Robin’s presentation. Angie Wilczynski, Port Huron’s Medical Assistant Administrative Instructor, was impressed because the presentation even went into the usual break time for the students, and not one student watched the clock. The campus is already planning to invite Robin back next year to speak to the students because of the practical and encouraging information she brings from the field and her experiences.