Madalyn Forman: Continuing her Healthcare Career Journey
Madalyn Forman knew she wanted to work in the medical field since she was a little girl. As soon as she turned 18, she enrolled in a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program and dedicated herself to patient care. Madalyn worked as a CNA for 24 years, even attaining a supervisor position at a home care agency. But after two decades of a successful career, Madalyn was ready for a change.
“At this point I was feeling burned out. I wanted to stay in the medical field, but I wanted something different,” says Madalyn. “I thought about going back to school, and that’s when my sister told me to look at Charter College.”
Madalyn’s sister, who attended Charter College’s Vancouver Campus, told her about the Medical Assistant program. It intrigued Madalyn.
Discovering the Charter College Support System
Although she had a great CNA career, Madalyn had never graduated from high school. It was an obstacle to continuing education. But Charter College has a partnership with C4L Academy, a fully accredited online program that allows adult learners to earn their diploma while they pursue a certificate. Its unique curriculum, online delivery, and allowance for students to choose the order in which they take courses make completing the program more feasible than trying to cram for a GED on your own.
According to Madalyn, another benefit of attending Charter College is the blended learning model. Especially when Madalyn came down with COVID, the ability to review lectures, complete coursework, and continue her education online was a true gamechanger.
“I was able to log in via Skype or Teams from bed to get my class instruction,” she explained. “They definitely made sure I had everything I needed.”
Inspirational Instructors and Hands-On Learning
Balancing work, family, and education was a lot for Madalyn to handle, but the instructors and staff at Charter supported and encouraged her.
“The instructors were awesome,” says Madalyn “They were very understanding and accommodating.”
Among her favorite teachers, Dana Lee left a lasting impression on Madalyn. She explains that Dana made learning enjoyable and memorable through her vibrant personality and fun class activities.
“Dana always had something fun to say that helped us connect the material,” Madalyn shares. “Her personality is just so outgoing.”
The hands-on learning experiences at Charter also helped Madalyn’s development. The lab exercises helped her understand different procedures and gain real-world practice for her future.
“We did blood draws, point of care testing, and I got a lot of practice with the Dr. Chrono medical software for charting,” Madalyn explains. “These practical skills, really helped me prepare for my field.”
Her externship at PeaceHealth gave Madalyn even more field exposure. There, she worked in family medicine, and she really got the opportunity to connect with her patients and provide more personal care.
Thriving as a Medical Assistant and Looking Toward the Future
Today, Madalyn works as a Medical Assistant at the Vancouver Clinic, where her experiences at Charter have helped in her career accomplishments. She recently completed preceptor training, which will allow her to mentor new hires and students. She’s working toward a promotion to the Medical Assistant 2 position and is considering enrolling in the Charter College Medical Assistant Associate Degree program.
But for now, Madalyn is taking a well-deserved break in her educational journey. Whenever she’s in the area, Madalyn will float over to the Vancouver Campus to say hi to her old instructors, and occasionally talk about her role with the new medical assistant students. She hopes to stay connected with Charter and offer the new generation of Medical Assistants the advice and support she was shown.
Are you interested in a fulfilling medical career? Check out Charter College’s Certificate in Medical Assistant program. Call 888-200-9942 or fill out the form.