Never Be Afraid to Stop Growing

Author: Matthew Vaughn, B.S., CCMA

I wanted to share a bit of my personal story in hopes of inspiring others to never give up on themselves. My journey in healthcare began when I was 19 years old, working as a medical receptionist. I had just left my part-time job at a local grocery store, where I had worked since my junior year of high school. At the time, I was in my first year of college, taking general education courses with dreams of working in the medical field.

Truthfully, I didn’t know much about healthcare back then. Despite my inexperience, the health administrator of the clinic took a chance on me—a young, inexperienced teenager. Adding to the challenge, I was a male in a role where women are often preferred due to their typically more inviting presence. Nevertheless, I worked hard, answered and transferred every call, and maintained the positive and joyful attitude I’ve always prided myself on.

Over time, I learned how to schedule patients and was eventually moved to the central scheduling department. After about a year, a new nurse manager joined the clinic. She noticed my passion for the medical field and offered me an incredible opportunity: training as a medical assistant under her supervision. At the time, we had several nursing positions open but no suitable candidates to fill them.

I started small, learning how to read medical records and enter referrals. After six to eight months of mastering administrative nursing tasks, the nurse manager officially changed my title from receptionist to medical assistant and secured a pay raise for me. Then, the real challenge began.

She immersed me in hands-on training: a week in the lab learning phlebotomy with an incredible phlebotomist, time in radiology to master EKGs, and clinical work with the nursing team, where I learned injections, patient intake, and other critical medical assistant skills. At first, I was terrified—especially when it came to needles. I didn’t want to cause discomfort to patients, but I made a promise to myself: always say yes.

I said yes to every opportunity to grow, whether it was assisting in a procedure, drawing a patient’s blood, or learning a new skill. That mindset opened doors I didn’t even know existed. I completed my training, passed all my competencies, and was assigned to open a brand-new chiropractic clinic within our health system.

Working with a brilliant chiropractic sports physician, I built a successful department from the ground up. He mentored me on how to analyze spinal imaging and diagnostic studies. We often found crucial details in imaging that radiology reports had overlooked—details that could lead to life-changing diagnoses.

This experience proved invaluable when I transitioned to primary care, where I made it a habit to review imaging myself while explaining results to patients. It not only helped them understand their conditions but also empowered them to take charge of their health.

After five years with that health system, I moved to a larger organization as a travel medical assistant. Over the course of two years, I worked in 14 clinics across eight specialties, including neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, general surgery, and family medicine. Though I worked in many specialties, surgery became my primary focus.

One of the highlights of my career was working alongside an exceptional neurosurgeon. He was one of the toughest providers I’d ever encountered, and we clashed initially due to our different working styles. However, we soon learned to work together, and he became one of my greatest mentors.

This neurosurgeon took me under his wing, allowing me to shadow surgical cases and observe clinical exams. He taught me how to conduct physical exams, interpret imaging from a surgical perspective, and correlate findings into a diagnosis. I also learned to identify errors or omissions in radiology reports and worked with on-call radiologists to ensure accuracy.

Throughout my seven years as a medical assistant, I was also attending school full-time. I earned my Associate of Allied Health Sciences, Bachelor of Science in Cell and Molecular Biology, and a Graduate Certificate in Medical Sciences. After two application cycles and several interviews, God blessed me with a “YES.” I am now an incoming PA student in Northeastern State University’s PA Program, Class of 2027, starting October 2025.

The purpose of sharing my story is not to suggest that you must go to medical, PA, or nursing school to succeed. You don’t even need an RN to make a difference. My message is simple: never stop learning. Stay curious, ask questions, and take every opportunity to grow.

As a medical assistant, the more you learn, the better you’ll be at your job. You’ll be able to explain lab results with confidence, help patients understand why healing takes time, and support them in managing their health. Knowledge is power, and the more you know, the greater an asset you’ll be to your team—and, most importantly, to your patients.

No matter where you are in your journey, never be afraid to keep growing.