COLLIN COLLEGE
The Power of A Handwritten Note: STUDENT TRAVERSES THE PATH TO A NEW CAREER by Heather Darrow
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n the days when she needs inspiration Kristen students may become credentialed as Certified Ostertag opens her wallet and pulls out a Phlebotomy Technicians (CPT), Electrocardiography handwritten note. The words she reads are (EKG) Technicians, and Medical Scribes.” her own. They are As part of the program, Kristen the reason she decided to go completed an externship in to college, change careers, and a cardiology office. She took never look back. patient histories and vital signs, A mother of three teenagers, verified insurance, scheduled Kristen enjoyed her job as the appointments, updated medical director of advocacy and finance records, and performed hundreds manager for a local domestic of EKGs. violence shelter. However, at “There wasn’t anything that they the beginning of the pandemic could throw at me that I couldn’t she was reminded that there perform, and that is because of aren’t any guarantees in life. She this program,” Kristen said. “The felt called to become a nurse interaction with the patients gave but decided to earn a medical me confirmation that I was doing assisting certificate first. what I was called to do. Multiple During an online Collin College patients told the providers that medical assisting program they felt heard and that I was kind. interview, she wrote the words, “I It was rewarding to find a balance really want this,” and tucked the of being efficient and still giving note in her wallet. great patient care, letting patients know they are important.” “It was scary to walk away from a career that was successful,” Today, Kristen serves on the Kristen said. “It was only program’s advisory board. This because of the support of my spring she plans to work as a husband that I could. Since that medical assistant during the Kristen Ostertag is pursuing a new career at Collin College. moment I’ve been all in. It was day while she takes a nursing a no-brainer to select a program that could give me so prerequisite class at night. many certification options.” “I will apply for Collin’s nursing program this spring,” According to Kimberly Gentry, professor of Medical she said. “I can’t stress enough how much Professor Assisting Advanced Practice, the college’s Medical Kimberly Gentry taught all of the students. Most of Assisting Advanced Practice program offers hands-on us didn’t have any medical experience. The amount training and skills that prepare students to work in we learned in an accelerated amount of time was physicians’ offices, urgent care facilities, and hospitals. tremendous. I highly recommend this program. It really Students can choose to enroll in the 10-month gives you a chance to get started in the medical field certificate program or the two-year associate of applied quickly.” • science degree. For more information, visit www.collin.edu/ department/medicalassisting/. “One unique feature of this program is that it is an advanced practice program, allowing students to To apply and register for Collin College classes at the take multiple credentialing exams and increase their Wylie Campus, visit www.collin.edu/campuses/wylie. marketability to employers,” Kimberly said. “In addition to the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) certification, Photo by Sara Carpenter, Collin College photographer. A Wylie Chamber of Commerce Publication
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