Terry Payne didn’t know what he wanted to do for a career, but when Midwest Technical Institute (MTI) came to his high school, he knew that he saw himself helping others. “I’m a hands-on person,” Terry states and with MTI’s Medical Assisting Program, he would get that. Upon successful completion of the program, students obtain their medical assisting certification when they sit for, and pass, the American Association of Medical Assistants’ (AAMA) National Medical Assistant (CMA) Certification Exam.
MTI coordinates medical assisting externships with their students and local health care organizations. “I picked a specialty that interested me, cardiology, and went to Springfield Clinic.” Terry was hired in cardiology after the completion of his externship where he will celebrate his third anniversary this October.
“There are multiple ways you can help people in cardiology and keep them out of the hospital. Knowing that I’m contributing to that solidified the decision for me," he says.
Now Terry is expanding his credentials from CMA to Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) with the pathway program at Springfield Clinic. He’s excited to expand his scope of practice. "I’ll be able to use my new skills to provide better care to my patients,” he says.