VGCC names new Medical Assisting program head
The new head of Vance-Granville Community College’s Medical Assisting program recently wrapped up her first semester in the leadership role.
Donna M. Gardner (pictured above), a resident of Louisburg, joined VGCC in January, bringing with her more than 25 years of experience as a Medical Assistant and educator. Gardner graduated with an Associate in Applied Science degree in Medical Assisting from Kalamazoo Valley Community College in 1986. She then continued her education at Western Michigan University, earning both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Public Administration Degree. During her health-care career, she has held a variety of positions, including Medical Records Secretary, Clinical Medical Assistant, Triage, Scheduler, Inventory Clerk and Referral Specialist. She has experience in long-term care, clinical research, women’s health-care, family practice, college health and a plasma center. Gardner taught for a private school in Kalamazoo, Michigan and served as Medical Assisting department chair at a private school in Asheville. She is a current member of both the American Association of Medical Assistants and the North Carolina Society of Medical Assistants.
Gardner is seeking to increase local awareness of the important role of medical assistants in the health-care system. Typically listed as one of the nation’s fastest-growing careers, medical assistants are already found in most area hospitals and doctor’s offices. Medical assistants are multi-skilled personnel who can perform administrative, clinical and laboratory procedures. “Physicians value this unique versatility more and more, as managed care compels them to contain costs and manage human resources efficiently,” according to the AAMA web site. “Not surprisingly, the demand for medical assistants is expanding rapidly.”
The Medical Assisting curriculum program is based at VGCC’s Franklin County Campus in Louisburg. Students may either complete a diploma in Medical Assisting or continue their studies to complete an Associate in Applied Science degree. Because VGCC’s program is nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, graduates are eligible to sit for the American Association of Medical Assistants’ (AAMA) certification examination to become Certified Medical Assistants.
For more information, call Donna Gardner at (919) 496-1567, ext. 3607, or (252) 738-3607.
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