Rasmussen College Medical Assisting Instructor Named 2014 Elsevier/ABHES Master Teacher Award Winner

TAMPA, Fla. (March 6, 2014)–Rasmussen College, a regionally accredited private college, is proud to announce Lauren Ramirez, Medical Assisting program coordinator at the Rasmussen College Tampa/Brandon campus, has been named the 2014 Elsevier/ABHES Master Teacher Award winner. The Master Teacher Award recognizes best practices in health careers education, and is presented by Elsevier, a leading provider of science and health information, and the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). Ramirez was selected among 50 nominations across the country for her use of new tools and technologies in the classroom.

"We could not be more proud of Lauren,” said Christian Wright, dean of the School of Health Sciences at Rasmussen College. “Lauren is an invaluable member of the School of Health Sciences and Tampa/Brandon campus and community. She consistently incorporates new tools and technologies into her classes, such as the use of iPads in her labs and lectures, as well as using screencasts to promote, explain and demonstrate assignments, activities and events. She then shares her best practices with the rest of the faculty and College. We could not think of a more deserving candidate, and we know she will continue to demonstrate her innovation and effectiveness as an instructor for years to come.

Along with using iPads to complete assignments and practice medical applications used in the field, Ramirez has her students film and produce class videos using flipcams. Ramirez herself has also produced dozens of laboratory instructional videos that are accessible to students. Through these innovative tools, Ramirez’s students are learning how to navigate different types of digital content, a skill sought after by today’s employers.

Ramirez is also being recognized for providing opportunities in the community for her students to get additional hands-on experience. Recently, her students participated in the Great American Teach-In where they taught high school students how to perform different types of procedures, such as eye exams and glucose tests. Ramirez’s students also gave more than 3,900 tuberculosis injections to staff and employees at a Tampa area cancer center. These experiences help her students better prepare themselves for externships which often lead to employment. About 50 percent of her students end up being hired by their extern site.

“There is truly nothing better than seeing my students succeed,” said Ramirez. “Some of them don’t have a strong support network at home, which motivates me to think outside the box to help them excel both in the classroom and in their future jobs. I’m extremely proud to have a Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) Certification pass rate of 87.5 percent, something that wouldn’t be possible without the support of my fellow faculty and leadership at Rasmussen College. It’s an honor to be named the Master Teacher Award winner, and I will continue to look for new ways to help my students fulfill their potential and stand out in the medical field.”

Ramirez was formally recognized at the 11^th Annual National Conference on Allied Health Education in Nashville, Tenn. on Feb. 26-28, 2014 where she presented her best practices to conference attendees. Along with a plaque, she received a $500 cash prize.

Ramirez has been in the field of medical assisting for more than seven years. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences from the University of South Florida. She is a Registered Medical Assistant, an instructor through the American Heart Association and a certified Florida HIV/AIDS course facilitator. She’s been an instructor with Rasmussen College for more than two years.

To learn more about the Rasmussen College School of Health Sciences, please visit http://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/health-sciences/.