Lack of Guest Speakers
I am teaching a brand new Medical Assisting program in a community that as yet offers no jobs in the field. We are still trying to find extern sites for our 1st set of 2010 graduates. While I would love to have a prior graduate talk to my students about their success in the field, that obviously won't happen for awhile. In the meantime, what do you suggest? -Jeanne
Hi Craig,
A guest speaker should address how it is in their field and exactly how it is in the real world. The guest speaker should simply speak the truth. Any topic that is applicable to the course is good as well.
Patricia
Hi Patricia, A guest speaker is best if he or she is a grad of the school? and also is the best approch is to use real world examples? In the field that I teach instructors bring to the table these real world experiences to the students. With this in mind, what topics should a guest speaker address? thank you, Craig
Hi Sandi,
Interns are awesome graduate speakers! I had one today to come in and give her personal testimony.
Patricia
I have even used about-to-graduate students or those who have been on externships to speak and give insight.
Hi Sandi,
Thanks for your input, but the Drs around here just ask, "What's a Medical Assistant?" It seems clinics hire Drs and nurses and Physician Assistants and Nursing Assistants, but no MAs. I checked every hospital website where they list all their job titles, regardless of whether or not there are openings, and there were no MA positions in this area. I called MeritCare and Innovis Health and 7 Day Clinics and the VA and even nursing homes. After an exhaustive 6 wk search, I discovered they hire MAs in Minneapolis or Grand Forks, but nothing within an hr's drive of my home. So I called the local college where the program is offered, and asked the Director of Medical Assisting where her graduates found jobs. She said it's a new program, that she hadn't been able to find extern sites yet, but that their program needed another instructor. So that's how I wound up teaching here. I'm very excited to teach something I love, but I'm frustrated for my students. I recently moved from a state where there were pages of MA ads to choose from. I suggested to my Director that we create a skills list and send it to all healthcare facilities in the area, and that we schedule time to sit down and explain to them just what we are capable of and how cost effective we can make them. Hopefully that will help in securing externships and we can move forward from there. -Jeanne
This would be nice to give students current info about the field
Hi Sandi,
There are many avenues that can be utilized to find guest speakers. Students can help and your placement director is an excellent source as well.
Patricia
It seems to me any medical assistant who did coursework could be an encouragement to your students. perhaps even the MA at your own personal doctor's office would be willing to come in to speak. Or contact a local hospital; they have even have some MAs on their speakers' bureau who would be wiling to come in to speak to your class.
