Prism Career Institute isn’t just a great place to go to school – it’s also a fulfilling place to work. Hear from Regina L. Johnson, RMA, NRCPT, CPI, CMAC, the Medical Assisting Program, to learn more about her rewarding role at Prism Career Institute, serving students in Philadelphia, PA, and Cherry Hill and West Atlantic City, NJ.
A Career Change
Johnson started working as an instructor at Prism Career Institute in 2012. Before that, she worked in medical assisting for ten years, but she wasn’t always in the healthcare field. Johnson initially worked as a cosmetologist. It wasn’t until a family member became ill and needed a lung transplant that Johnson was inspired to learn more about how the medical system worked.
Johnson had some hesitation and wasn’t sure she’d make a good medical assistant. Her mother and grandmother were both certified nursing assistants (CNAs), and she didn’t necessarily want to go into the same field. But she was impressed by the range of responsibilities that medical assistants have, such as drawing blood, giving injections, and conducting electrocardiogram (EKG) tests.
When she applied for a position as a medical assisting instructor at Prism Career Institute, she was invited to present a mock lesson.
“I was nervous,” Johnson says, “but I picked a simple topic, like hand washing, and they liked my delivery and wanted to hire me. To this day, I’m so grateful to the RN who interviewed me and gave me a chance to branch off into something different.”
As a military wife, Johnson has lived all over the United States, including Oklahoma, Maryland, and Massachusetts. Now, she’s happy to be back in New Jersey, where she grew up and many of her family members still live. After working as an instructor at Prism Career Institute, Johnson was promoted to Medical Assisting Program Manager.
Supporting Instructors and Students
In her current role, Johnson oversees three sites, Prism Career Institute’s campuses in Philadelphia, PA, Cherry Hill, NJ, and West Atlantic City, NJ. As a program manager, Johnson gets to work with instructors and students, as well as external partners such as externship site hosts.
Each day, Johnson’s first step is to check in with the instructors at each campus. She’s tasked with making sure all course materials are correctly uploaded to Canvas, the school’s online learning management system.
After making sure her instructors have everything they need, Johnson checks on the medical assisting students. She’ll review grades and attendance records and reach out to any students who are falling behind to offer support services, such as tutoring. She may also visit externship sites or meet with other administrative staff.
A Fulfilling Healthcare Career Path
When asked what she’d want prospective students to know about the medical assisting field, Johnson notes the diverse responsibilities and opportunities that medical assistants have.
“We are the Swiss army knife of the medical field. We do a little bit of everything,” she says.
A medical assistant might support doctors during surgery or biopsy procedures. They can work in every specialization, from oncology to plastic surgery.
Johnson also explains that this career path gives students a lot of different options, whether they want to work closely with patients or be in more of an office role.
“You can have an administrative focus, or you can be more clinical, or if you want a mixture of both, you can do that,” Johnson explains. “And there’s always room for growth.”
She enjoys getting to see students graduate and move on to exciting careers in healthcare.
“I get to change people’s lives,” Johnson says. “And my instructors get to do that, too.”
Learn More About Our Medical Assisting Program
At Prism Career Institute, we’re committed to helping each student prepare for a career in the healthcare industry. With our experienced faculty, comprehensive curriculum, and career services, you can develop your clinical and administrative skills in a supportive environment. In addition to coursework, each student completes a 160-hour externship to gain hands-on experience in medical assisting.
Prism Career Institute is accredited by Accrediting Council for Continuing Education & Training (ACCET) and offers our medical assistant program at all three campus locations in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. To learn more, contact us today.