Sacramento Medical Educator Encourages Others To Join Medical Field

Medical assistants perform a wide variety of administrative and clinical tasks in doctor's offices around the country. Most medical assistants offer a balanced skill set with equal parts knowledge of human anatomy and physiology with day-to-day management know-how unique to the medical field.

In Sacramento, Consumnes River College is one of the few places that provides training to those committed to finding a job in medical assisting by providing both certificates in Achievement and Proficiency as well as an associate degree. And with the job outlook for medical assistants looking very strong for the foreseeable future according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, seats in medical assisting programs are in high demand.

This is a demand that Cori Burns personally sees too. Not only is Burns a full-time professor that teaches all required courses for the medical assisting program, she also oversees the overall health of the program.

What part of your job do you enjoy the most?

"I enjoy training students to give the highest quality of patient care. In addition, I enjoy educating them on becoming better healthcare consumers for themselves and their families."

What is your education history?

"Prior to obtaining my teaching job, I went to a private school for my Medical Assisting (MA) credential, received my Bachelor of Art degree from Humboldt State and my associate's degree from American River College."

Do you think your education has prepared you to take on this position?

"Yes, absolutely. My MA training gave me the base knowledge for the program, but my bachelor's and associate's gave me a broader understanding of the world of education. It also allows me to relate to my students because I've been there."

Do you have any advice for someone seeking a similar career?

"Go for it. If the medical field has always been your dream, it's never too late to start. Just make sure you get a strong foundation in math, English and the medical basics like terminology and anatomy."

Paulo Acoba is a California native raised in the Bay Area and living in the Central Valley. He enjoys distance running, cycling and grassroots motorsports. He holds a degree in management from the University of California Merced. Paulo has been writing for Examiner.com since 2012 and covering the Fresno area.