Kathleen Patrick MHA, RMA, CBCS.

I’ve been fortunate to have incredible mentors who have played a monumental role in my success. Over the years, my fellow instructors have shown unwavering patience, dedication, and availability—always making time for my questions and offering the extra support I needed. My sister, a nurse practitioner, has also been instrumental in helping me build my clinical skills and encouraging me throughout my career.

I’m especially grateful for the staff from the pulmonology group, where I completed my externship. They were the mentors who truly pushed me to grow. They didn’t hesitate to throw me right into real clinical experiences—saying things like, “Okay, you’re doing injections today,” or “You’re taking vitals for patient care.” As a student facing my first patients, it was nerve‑wracking, but their support helped me overcome those fears. They taught me new skills, different approaches, and the confidence to trust myself.

I’m deeply thankful for each of them and the time they invested in me. They taught me to step outside my comfort zone, embrace new challenges, and stay committed to continuous learning.

Step out of your comfort zone, try something new, and always keep learning. My mentors have told me this throughout my career, and it's advice that has shaped everything I do. They encouraged me to not be afraid to take on new challenges and to continuously grow. This advice has been instrumental in my journey from front desk reception to working in multiple specialties and eventually becoming an instructor. I've learned that in healthcare, you never know where you're going to start and where you're going to end up - you may think you know where you're headed, but you can wind up in a completely different area or specialty. Staying open to new opportunities and always being willing to learn has been the key to my success.

I would say believe in your abilities and don't underestimate the value of your voice and what you bring to the table. Healthcare can be quite demanding, but it's also one of the most rewarding fields I've personally belonged to and have seen. Don't be afraid to ask questions, to continue to grow, and to step outside of your comfort zone. Find mentors or people who encourage you to learn more and are confident in your goals. Remain truthful to why you wanted to join the healthcare field in the first place. A lot of us have a calling in healthcare, where we have an emphasis on compassion and empathy - don't lose sight of that. Remember your strengths, have confidence in your skills, and know that you are making a difference and what you do counts. There are many opportunities for women in healthcare, not only in leadership, education, administration, and clinical care, but in mentoring as well. You may start thinking you know where you're going to end up, but you don't - you can wind up in a completely different area or specialty, and that's the beauty of this field.

One of the biggest challenges in the healthcare education field is preparing students for the realities of today’s healthcare environment. Healthcare is constantly evolving with new technology, electronic health records, insurance requirements, and increasing patient care demands. Many students are balancing school, work, family responsibilities, and personal hardships while trying to succeed in a rigorous healthcare program. As an instructor, it is important to not only teach clinical and administrative skills, but also help students build confidence, professionalism, communication skills, and resilience.

At the same time, there are incredible opportunities in this field. The demand for trained healthcare professionals continues to grow, and medical assistants play a vital role in patient care and healthcare operations. Technology has also created new opportunities for innovation in healthcare education through virtual simulations, electronic health record training, and online learning platforms that help prepare students for real-world experiences.

One of the most rewarding opportunities for me personally is being able to mentor and inspire future healthcare professionals. Seeing students overcome challenges, earn certifications, gain employment, and grow into confident healthcare team members is incredibly meaningful. Knowing that I can positively impact both students and ultimately the patients they will care for makes this career very fulfilling.

Compassion and empathy are at the core of everything I do. I believe it's essential to remain truthful to why we enter healthcare in the first place - that calling we feel to help others. In my teaching, I emphasize not just clinical skills and professionalism, but also soft skills, empathy, and communication. My focus has always been on bridging the gap between textbook learning and real-world practice, because I want my students to understand that what they do truly matters. My biggest accomplishment and most rewarding experience is watching my students succeed professionally. When former students reach out to tell me 'hey, Ms. Patrick, thanks to you, I have a job now' or 'thank you so much for teaching me, I'm doing really well,' that's what drives me. Seeing students who started from ground zero become successful in the field is the most meaningful part of my work. I also value continuous learning and growth - I've never stopped pursuing education and new opportunities, and I encourage my students to do the same.