VGCC Medical Assisting students elect leaders

The Vance-Granville Community College Student Association of Medical Assistants (SAMA) recently elected officers for the 2016-17 academic year. The association is made of up students in the Medical Assisting program, based at VGCC’s Franklin County Campus . This year’s officers include President Mirna Lopez of Youngsville, Vice President Melissa Bridges of Creedmoor, Secretary/Historian Courtney Clark of Raleigh and Treasurer Kiara Fogg of Warrenton. The purpose of SAMA is to promote the health profession of Medical Assisting and to promote health education in the college’s four-county service area. Members may attend meetings of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) and engage in service projects.

VGCC offers both a one-year diploma and a two-year associate degree in Medical Assisting, an allied health profession whose multi-skilled practitioners perform administrative, clinical and lab procedures. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assisting continues to be projected as one of the fastest-growing occupations in America. As VGCC’s program is nationally accredited, graduates are eligible to sit for the AAMA certification examination to become Certified Medical Assistants. For more information about Medical Assisting, call program head Donna Gardner at the Franklin Campus at (919) 496-1567.

Above: VGCC SAMA officers include, from left, Treasurer Kiara Fogg, President Mirna Lopez and Vice President Melissa Bridges. Not pictured: Secretary/Historian Courtney Clark. (VGCC photo)