For patients in Fallon, Silver Springs and the surrounding rural northern Nevada communities, access to quality healthcare is a top priority. Some drive over two hours just to see a primary care provider or walk into an urgent care clinic. Practice Site Leader Erin (formerly a Sr. Medical Assistant for Renown Medical Group – Fernley) is one of the dedicated team members ensuring those patients feel seen, heard and cared for the moment they walk through the door.
What started as an externship close to home has grown into a fulfilling career marked by mentorship, professional growth and a deep passion for patient care. We sat down with Erin to learn more about her journey.
After I finished school and completed my externship hours, I came to Renown in Fernley since it was close to home. I've always loved Renown since it's where my family has gone for healthcare for years, and I continue to stay here because I get to meet and work with such amazing people. From the start of my externship, everyone at the clinic was so kind and welcoming. Now, as a Senior MA, I have other MAs come to cover shifts, and I get to pick their brains about what their "home" clinic is like.
I wanted to get my foot in the door for healthcare. I wanted to see if this was where I wanted to be. It was supposed to be a steppingstone in my career, but I've grown to love it so much, and it's everything I imagined working in healthcare could be without having to be in school for another five-plus years. I've learned a lot in this job because I have amazing providers who take the time to guide me, even though they don't have to. I continue to learn every day because urgent care is never the same. Something is always changing and keeping me on my toes.
I became a Certified Medical Assistant after finishing my classes at Carrington College here in Reno. It was such a fun program with lots of teachers who wanted to pass their knowledge on. I loved how I was able to get all the skills I needed for the job, and it was a great jumpstart for my career. Just recently, I graduated from Renown's High Potential program that my manager nominated me for. The program really helped me step into my role as Senior MA and gain a lot of knowledge that will help me in future roles.
It is an eye-opening experience. Not only are we caring for patients who live in Fernley, Fallon and Silver Springs, but I've also met patients who are driving two-plus hours for their primary care visit or to come to urgent care because their town doesn't have any clinics. It shows how much our little location can help people. Even if we feel like we're doing something small, the visit can mean the world to the patient because we're helping them feel better.
When patients are open and honest with me about having had bad experiences in the past, I hear them out and understand what caused it. Sometimes they feel overlooked and unheard, so I do my best to listen to their concerns and not rush them. For patients who feel nervous, I explain what I'm doing, why it needs to be done, and even show them how it's done before I do it, just to give them that visual aid. We're used to moving quickly as MAs and slowing down to take extra time with each patient helps them feel more secure.
I love it when team members have questions and are ready to learn! I remember feeling so scared to ask a question that I would avoid it until I really had to ask. I try to make anyone I'm mentoring feel that I'm open to questions, and we can always talk it through. I check in often and ask them questions to see how they're feeling.
I was so proud to be nominated for Renown’s High Potential program, because to me, that meant my manager saw something in me and wanted me to continue to grow. She always cheered for me, whether it was becoming Senior Medical Assistant, being selected for High Potential or even when it was just shadowing at other places. She pushed me to grow in any way that I can.
The people who continue to work and do their best to provide help for patients is what keeps me hopeful. The primary care providers, whose schedules are packed, still take their time during each patient's visit to provide the best care possible. And our urgent care providers travel from all around to come out here and help treat our patients when they can't be seen anywhere else.
Thinking about a career change? Consider joining Erin as a medical assistant at northern Nevada’s first and only academic health system! Medical assistant positions are available in primary care, urgent care, pediatrics, oncology, cardiology, surgery, neurology and more. Click here to browse open MA positions across our health system.
