Vanderbilt University Medical Center has announced two recipients of the Medical Assistant of the Year awards for 2023.
Ebony Thomas received the award for Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt Outpatient Care, and Jessica Benshoff received the honor for Vanderbilt Adult Ambulatory Clinics. They were chosen for demonstrating outstanding Credo behaviors, willingness to consistently exceed role expectations, and dedication to patients, colleagues and the VUMC community.
They were recognized during 2023 Medical Assistants Recognition Week, held from Oct. 16 to 20.
Thomas is a medical assistant in the Urology Clinic in the Doctor’s Office Tower at Monroe Carell. Her job responsibilities include bringing patients to exam rooms, taking vital signs, and assisting nurses with other tasks.
“I love my job,” said Thomas, who has worked for Vanderbilt since 2021 but has spent nearly 30 years in the medical profession. “I love my co-workers. I look at them like they’re family. I just love to come to work and have a good day. … The kids put a smile on my face. Sometimes I put a smile on their faces.”
According to her nomination, Thomas “is a great joy to work with. She comes to work every day with a smile on her beautiful face… She is courteous to all that she meets and strives to do her very best in all that she does. She is the first person willing to offer assistance if someone needs help. She works independently and so smoothly that the nurses really notice when she is not around. She never has to be asked to do anything, which keeps the flow of the clinic running smoothly.”
Monroe Carell Chief Nursing Officer Gretchen McCullough, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, said, “We are so lucky to have a remarkable team of medical assistants at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Celebrating an MA of Ebony’s caliber is a joy. Ebony delivers extraordinary care not only to our patients and families but goes beyond to provide care to her team. She is a bright light in the Urology Clinic.”
Benshoff is a medical assistant at Vanderbilt’s Otolaryngology Clinic at Medical Center East. Her job responsibilities include documenting patients’ medical histories, getting them ready to see providers, and scheduling for procedures.
“Being nominated for the award and then getting it was an honor to me,” Benshoff said. “I love what I do, and I don’t do it for the recognition. But it was nice to get that recognition.”
According to her nomination, Benshoff “works very closely with her RN team members to make sure their patients are getting the very best care possible. Jessica also has a great working relationship with her providers, residents and fellows to be able to give the patients the best care possible. … Jessica is always willing to help anyone on the team. Jessica is someone that when I first started, I would go to if I needed assistance, and she was also happy to help me.”
Michele Hasselblad, DNP, RN, NE-BC, vice president of Adult Ambulatory Nursing, said, “It was such a pleasure to recognize and award Jessica as our Ambulatory Division Medical Assistant of the Year. Our medical assistants make an impact every day in our efforts to provide personalized care to patients, and Jessica really stands out for her expertise, dedication to her team and her kindness. Congratulations to Jessica, and a big thank you to the colleagues that nominated her.”