“Volunteering with the Red Cross for my service learning project has been an amazing experience. Therapeutic communication really came in handy talking with everyone. Every shift I worked I was with a different crew and did things a little different, but it was easy to adjust. They all were so much fun to work with but honestly the best lead I had was Julie. Julie is a Certified Medical Assistant that left a clinic job to join the Red Cross, it was amazing talking with her and once the crew learned that I was a MA student they were showing me different tips and tricks.”

“They were really cool with letting me watch how they start the venipunctures and I learned a different way to mark that I think will be helpful with starting venipunctures in class. It really was a learning experience to feel veins on different people and how some are small and hard to find, and some are very easy. I learned so much from this experience that I will take into class and the work field.” Corinne Chalker, Medical Assistant Student

“Volunteers are the heart and soul of nearly everything that happens at the American Red Cross. In their volunteer roles, Corrine, Megan and Whitney are also the spirit at our blood drives,” said Amber Carey, Volunteer Partnership and Community Outreach Specialist at the Red Cross for Southeast Wisconsin. “They’re the smiling faces which welcome donors of life-saving blood, making sure donors are at ease every step of the way. We’re grateful for their important volunteer service – especially during a pandemic – and know that their impact has been felt by dozens of blood donors in our community.”

Amber Carey, Volunteer Partnership and Community Outreach, American Red Cross, 2600 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53233, 414.335.7114

Congratulations Corrine and Megan on your Bronze and Silver Student Community Impact Awards! Congratulations Whitney on your Bronze Award!

Fifteen soon-to-be Medical Assistant graduates participated in virtual employment event to interact with area healthcare employers. Representatives from Advocate Aurora Health, Ascension WI, Froedert, SSM Agnesian, SSM Health, UW Health, and Wildwood Family clinic participated in the event. While the employment event is not new to the MA program, holding this in a virtual environment was a new experience for all.

Moraine Park Technical College’s Associate Dean of Health, Ben McKenzie shared welcoming remarks with the group stating the importance of staying current with interviewing skills. He emphasized using the interview process to determine if the organization is a good fit for you.

Certified Medical Assistant (AAMA), Katie Blessing, offered tips to stay engaged and grow in the MA field. She recommended to look for networking opportunities for continuity of care. Katie stated to treat your practicum experience like a job interview. Demonstrate that you want to be there: be willing, able and ready to help every day! In addition, Katie suggested to look at the total package offered by the employer, not just the starting pay when you are starting out as a Medical Assistant.

Medical Assistant students received Service Learning Recognition Awards for their volunteer work this past year from Anne Lemke, Student Community Impact Coordinator.

Employers addressed student questions during the Employee Panel portion of the event. Some of the employers reinforced sharing your passion and drive to be an MA during the interview. Important qualities to employers include being upbeat, flexible, willing to learn, being a team player, soft skills, and communication skills. Employers look to complement their current team with new hires; they want to make sure that their organization is the right fit for the prospective employee. Each employer shared what sets their organization apart from the other employers.

Employers conducted Mock Interviews with the students and provided feedback on their resumes.

Sarah Chojnacki, Medical Assistant Program Director coordinated and facilitated the event. Lisa Ferguson, Careers Instructor assisted with facilitation.

Moraine Park Careers Instructors can offer assistance with: Resumes, Cover Letters, Interviewing, Job Search, Career Fit and so much more!

Contact us at: www.morainepark.edu/careers

Fond du Lac | 920-924-3244 | Lisa Ferguson | lferguson@morainepark.edu

West Bend | 262-335-5773 | Rhonda Roehrig | rroehrig2@morainepark.edu

Beaver Dam | 920-887-4437