The Medical Assistant Student Organization, or MASO, is a nonprofit organization operated by Guam Community College students and medical instructors. To enable medical assisting students to enhance their knowledge and skills in the medical field, actively participate in Guam’s community, and to contribute quality healthcare experience for patients.
Katsuyoshi Uchima, the organization’s, said MASO was founded four years ago, under the name Health Student Association of America. HSAA used to send one student to compete against other states’ medical assistants, by taking on medical procedures. Uchima explained that when they switched to MASO, they no longer compete off-island,
“Joining the program is purely voluntary, once the students join the program, they are automatically in the organization, but it is entirely up to them to be active members,” Uchima said. “There are consistently 20 active members in the organization”
“Community outreach is one of their main goals, for we always help out Public Health Disease Prevention Program,” Uchima said.
Uchima explained that, MASO provide help to the Guam Public Health and that all their work is voluntary.
Barbara Mafnas, MASO’s said says, “We do voluntary work such as blood pressure screening, blood sugar screening, homeless count and cholesterol check, always located on Guam campus, Micronesia Mall or Agana Shopping Center. This is a great way to help people determine if they have any complications with their blood pressure and circulations that could lead to future health problems, but if they ever need treatment then they should look at this site for more information.
Uchima does not push them one way or the other, it is entirely up to their decision to whether or not that they would purchase the medical equipment.
Uchima says “The students benefit by raising money by paying for their uniforms, health certification examination, and medical equipment if they agreed to purchase equipment to do so,” Uchima said.
When doing fundraisers, in the past they use to do car washes, but now they sell movie tickets and restaurant coupons.
Irene Acafalle, the president for MASO, explained one obstacle that they face, is a lack of teachers, as the Medical assistant program is served by only two teachers.
Uchima explains is that MASO is also trying to align with American Medical Technologists to get the students certification exam through.
AMT gives certification for the students to become medical assistants, in order to do so they have to change their name to align with them.
American Medical Technologists is a recognized certification agency and membership society with allied health professionals. AMT supports allied health professionals to verify their skills and learn to grow in their chosen profession, and maintain a quality workplace. Once certification is granted, applicants automatically become members of AMT and have a host of member benefits at their disposal.
The exams provide information regarding the examinee knowledge, training, and experience in granting the certification.
Uchima said, “There is a benefit, when they align with the group, it opens new things for them such as writing papers, getting scholarships for the organization, and among other things.”
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