Mary Michel Adams
IBMC College Medical Assisting Graduate
Enrolling in college brought stability to Mary Michel Adams’ life when she felt she needed it most. She always had an interest in the medical field, but instead of jumping right into nursing school, she decided to ease into the field as a Medical Assistant. Mary graduated from IBMC College in 2017.
Soon, she’ll be going back to school again to achieve her goal of becoming a Registered Nurse. But for now, she’s enjoying a rewarding position at Banner Oncology Genetics at NCMC Cancer Institute in Greeley.
What did you do before attending IBMC?
“I was a primary care provider for assisted living and then became a Certified Nurse Aide shortly after starting school (at IBMC College).”
What made you decide to attend?
“I have always had a passion for the medical field but didn’t want to just jump full force into nursing school. I’ve been climbing my way up the career ladder, and it pays off.”
Are you happy with your decision?
“Yes I really am. I don’t think I’d have the skill set I do today if I haven’t had the experiences I have.”
What did you gain from your time at IBMC?
“Patience, and the ability to take the time to listen to a patient and what their needs are to better help them get the best care possible.
I wasn’t on a very positive path before I went back to school. I was struggling and I was very depressed. Now, I’m in a position that is brand new for Banner Health. There isn’t another MA that does strictly what I do. I look at each day with a positive outlook, and I couldn’t be more excited to see what my future now holds.”
What do you do every day at work?
“I screen family histories for cancer and see if a patient meets criteria for genetic testing. I work with 7 different testing companies and I do all prior authorizations for genetic testing as well for insurance. I work very closely with the surgery clinics and the breast MDC clinics as well for those patients who meet criteria for hereditary cancer genetic testing.
I love my job. I am so lucky to be where I am. It was a struggle for the first few months, but I am past a year of working here, and yes, I am definitely happy. I get to do what I am passionate about every single day.”
What did it take to land your job after graduating?
“I finished my externship in Oncology and was going to wait for a position to open up and actually, the day before my last day I got a call from a Gynecology office for an interview. I had the interview the next day and was hired a little over a week later. It was a very lucky situation and I felt blessed.”
Is there any advice you would give to someone thinking about attending IBMC?
“Don’t doubt or second guess yourself if you’re trying to decide on going back to school. You owe it to yourself and to your career opportunities to get the best hands-on training you can. IBMC does do that.”