The AAMA Recognizes the Incredible Medical Assisting Groups and Individuals Who Overcame Adversity and Triumphed in the COVID-19 Era

HOUSTON, October 18, 2021 (Newswire.com) - The American Association of Medical Assistants® (AAMA), the only organization in the world devoted exclusively to the medical assisting profession, announced the winners of the 2021 Excel Awards at the 65th AAMA Annual Conference. The Excel Awards bring recognition to outstanding publications, websites, promotions, community service projects, employers and individuals who demonstrate leadership, innovation and exceptional work.

"The AAMA is what it is today because of the outstanding professional accomplishments of our members," says Donald A. Balasa, JD, MBA, AAMA CEO and legal counsel. "The 2021 Excel Award winners exemplify the best in the medical assisting profession. Their example and dedication are an inspiration for all of us!"

The award winners were chosen by the AAMA Awards Committee.

The Awards of Distinction recognize individuals for their professional contributions and national AAMA service:

• 2021 Leadership and Mentoring Award winner: Nikal "Kia" Redwine, BSN, RN, CMA (AAMA), CPT — for promoting the professional identity and stature of AAMA members and the medical assisting profession by having displayed outstanding leadership and mentoring abilities on the national level.
• 2021 Medical Assistant of the Year Award winner: Sandra Williams, CMA (AAMA) — for being an exemplary professional medical assistant who has displayed an outstanding commitment to advancing the profession.
• 2021 Student Essay Award winner: Melissa French - for writing the winning essay that answered, "After obtaining your CMA (AAMA)® credential, how will you promote the credential and the medical assisting profession and how will you help patients navigate through telehealth and new technology?"

The 2021 CMA (AAMA)® Employer of the Year Award was given to a medical institution that employs CMAs (AAMA) and is a strong supporter of professional growth, particularly in the areas of certification, recertification, professional membership and networking:

• Tanner Clinic, Utah

State Society Awards:

• 2021 Publishing Award winner:
  • The Michigan Medical Assistant Journal, published by Michigan, Cristle Weissmiller, MHA, CMA (AAMA), CHCO, editor
• 2021 Website Development Award winners:
  • South Dakota, Maggie Olson, BS, CMA (AAMA), web chair
  • Texas, Sherry Bogar, CN-BC, CMA (AAMA), and Donna Gibbins, CMA (AAMA), web chairs
  • South Carolina, Sandra Williams, CMA (AAMA), web chair
• 2021 Marketing, Promotion and Recruitment Award winners:
  • "2021 SDSMA State Convention," hosted by South Dakota, Erica Arends, CMA (AAMA), campaign director
  • "TSMA Keeping It Alive during COVID," conducted by Texas, Lisa Connelley, CMA (AAMA), Donna Gibbins, CMA (AAMA), and Angela Hensley, CMA (AAMA), campaign directors
  • "NCSMA Member Feature," by North Carolina, Amber Greer, BS, CMA (AAMA), PBT(ASCP), campaign director
• 2021 Community Service Award winners:
  • "Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Dakota" by South Dakota, Erica Arends CMA (AAMA), campaign director
  • "HopeTree Family Services" by Virginia, Karen Nichols-Skoff, AAS, CMA (AAMA), campaign director
  • "TSMA Warriors Battle Mental Health" by Texas, Lisa Connelley, CMA (AAMA), campaign director
• 2021 Excel Membership Retention winners: South Dakota, Utah, Maine, Iowa — for AAMA state societies with the greatest retention rate​
• 2021 Excel Membership Recruitment winners: Arkansas, Missouri, Texas, Georgia — for AAMA state societies with the greatest percentage increase in members
• 2021 Excel Student Membership Recruitment winners: Nevada, Idaho, Pennsylvania, Oregon — for AAMA state societies with the greatest percentage increase in student members
• 2021 CMA (AAMA) Certification winners: North Dakota, Idaho, Main, Georgia — for greatest percentage increase of member CMAs (AAMA)

For the full list of 2021 Excel Award winners, please visit https://www.aama-ntl.org/news/conference/excel.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL ASSISTANTS®

The American Association of Medical Assistants®, the only organization in the world devoted exclusively to the medical assisting profession, was established in 1956 and serves the interests of more than 92,000 medical assisting professionals. The American Association of Medical Assistants provides quality resources and educational opportunities for medical assistants by offering certification, advocacy for quality patient-centered health care, credential acknowledgment and scope-of-practice protection. For more information, visit www.aama-ntl.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Francesca Llanos, Public Relations and Marketing Manager
[email protected]
773-590-5524

Source: The American Association of Medical Assistants®