Medical Assistant Spotlight

September/October 2024
Lifelong Learning
​CMA (AAMA) Relishes a Career that Keeps Teaching More Skills

“I feel as [if] I have found my niche in life and work and am where I am meant to be.”

Name: Fayth McKinney, CMA (AAMA)

Occupation: Medical assistant in a women’s health clinic

In the spotlight: Fayth McKinney, CMA (AAMA), entered the medical assisting field with 20 years of experience in health care. However, when she landed a permanent position in a women’s care clinic, she realized she still had a lot to learn about gynecological and obstetrical needs. Nearly a decade later, she performs numerous tasks, including assisting the physician with procedures and documenting health information. McKinney believes that the care they provide at the clinic helps improve women’s lives, which is why she is exactly where she is meant to be. 

July/August 2024
​A Winding Road
CMA (AAMA) Finds Her Way to Medical Assisting through Various Twists and Turns  

“I know working in the medical field is what I am supposed to be doing. This isn’t just a job to get a paycheck. This is something that I am passionate about.”

Name: Stephanie Wrenn, CMA (AAMA) 

Occupation: Medical assistant in a podiatrist’s practice

In the spotlight: It took Stephanie Wrenn, CMA (AAMA), over a decade to find her way to the medical assisting field. After years of school, work, and raising children, she left her husband and moved in with her parents. When her uncle was diagnosed with stage IV cancer and required hospice, Wrenn stepped up and helped care for him, sparking her passion for medicine. Today, she works in a busy podiatrist’s practice. While Wrenn's path to the medical field was complex, she believes medical assisting is her calling.

​Follow the Leader
CMA (AAMA) Educates Students, Staff, and Local Chapter Members

“I’ve advanced so much because I truly believe medical assistants are important. You can lead by example at any point in your medical assisting career. Strive to lead; strive to educate. It’s a very rewarding career, and I hope [there are] more medical assistants out there who help lead and continue to prove this.”

Name: Angela Liffel, CMA (AAMA)

Occupation: Clinic supervisor at Kootenai Health 

In the spotlight: Angela Liffel, CMA (AAMA), puts her medical assisting expertise to good use by educating students, colleagues, and fellow AAMA members. As a clinic supervisor, she helps staff excel in their roles, which brings her job satisfaction. Her passion for education also extends outside of her full-time work; she also leads her AAMA local chapter and teaches medical assistants through an apprentice program in her community. She hopes others continue to promote the value of the profession as she does through education and leadership.