This spring, Christine Brubaker-Holland (‘23) graduated from Mercy College of Health Sciences with her Associate of Science in Medical Assisting. A physician recruiter for a health system in Seattle, Washington, Christine discovered her passion for medicine when the war in Ukraine began to make international news. While watching televised coverage of the devastating conflict, Christine and her husband felt a call to travel overseas and provide whatever relief they could for Ukrainian refugees. At that moment, Christine, who had already earned both a bachelor's and a master's degree, realized how beneficial it would be to go back to school for professional training in the medical field.
"Otherwise, what would I do on a mission trip?” Christine remembered thinking. “Hand out water bottles?" She wanted to do more.
Not even a week after her revelation, Christine received an email at work inviting her to apply to the Medical Assisting (MA) program through Mercy College PLUS, the online extension of Mercy College of Health Sciences. She instantly knew this was a God-ordained call to obtain the clinical training she and her husband had discussed only days earlier. Christine applied and was quickly accepted to the MA program.
The online format, along with the task of juggling both full-time work and part-time schooling, was a completely new challenge for Christine. Throughout the one-year program, she occasionally became overwhelmed and discouraged, but she attributes her persistence to the encouragement of her professors and to her faith in God.
"God's hand was in this,” Christine reflected. “He called me to Mercy College, and I know He's going to provide the opportunity to use what I've learned to serve Him and others."
Mercy College’s medical assisting program coursework is offered online, with two in-person skills workshops and a preceptorships that provides 160 hours of hands-on experience in the local community in which the student resides. Students have the option to pursue a Certificate in Medical Assisting or complete additional Core Requirements to earn their associate degree. At the conclusion of the program, students are eligible to sit for the Certified Medical Assistant (AAMA) exam.
“The MA program through MercyPLUS was designed with students exactly like Christine in mind,” Senior Director of MercyPLUS Tim Pearson stated. “We want to give students the training and tools they need for whatever career they’ve chosen, whether that’s here or across the world. These students want to make a difference, and they want to do it now. MercyPLUS gives them that opportunity.”
Mercy College PLUS is fully accredited and offers several affordable online degree options. A personal enrollment coach assists students through the application process and to graduation, which allows students to focus entirely on their coursework and advance their careers at a time and place that works for them. Click below to apply and Chart Your Course online at plus.mchs.edu.
