Vanderbilt University Medical Center has announced two recipients of the Medical Assistant of the Year awards for 2024.
CJ Collett, CMA III, received the award for Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt Outpatient Care and Stacy Bair-Taylor, CMA III, received the honor for the 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.
Collett is a medical assistant in the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt Surgery and Clinics Murfreesboro. Her job responsibilities include coordinating cross-departmentally for patient testing, assisting providers with in-house procedures, stocking medical carts to prepare for clinic opening each day, and downloading endoscopy results.
“My role is always evolving,” said Collett, who has worked for VUMC for eight years. “It’s all about being encouraging to our patients and their families. If you can be a calming, engaging and happy face to meet them, then their experience overall is better, and they want to come back. Our whole group really believes in the pillars of the Vanderbilt Credo, and we work to achieve them every day.”
“It’s another level to be recognized for what I do; I’m really humbled and honored.”
According to her nomination, Collett “consistently focuses on making those she serves her highest priority. Each patient and family are greeted with a warm welcome and smile. CJ works diligently to ensure each patient has their needs met and the clinic stays on time for patients and providers. She’s known as the main resource for ENT-related matters and is committed to her colleagues.”
Monroe Carell Chief Nursing Officer Gretchen McCullough, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, said, “It was an honor to recognize CJ for the impact she makes on the lives of our patients and her colleagues. She displays a commitment to excellence every day, and it’s incredible to see the example she is setting for those around her.”
Bair-Taylor is a medical assistant at the Center for Women’s Health at Vanderbilt Health One Hundred Oaks. Her job responsibilities include precepting, assisting with in-room procedures, gathering medical records and scheduling follow-up appointments.
She has worked for Vanderbilt since 2019 but has spent 13 years in the medical profession.
“I love my patients and the team I work with; I wouldn’t change it for the world,” Bair-Taylor said. “It’s a warm and fuzzy feeling to realize that my providers appreciate me as much as I appreciate them.”
According to her nomination, Bair-Taylor “is wonderful with our patients; she received compliments almost daily from patients she’s roomed; she is very personable and has a high emotional intelligence. She goes above and beyond, always putting patients’ interests first. She mentors every single other medical assistant I have had in my clinic; she cares a lot and protects the people on her team.”
Michele Hasselblad, DNP, RN, NE-BC, vice president of Adult Ambulatory Nursing, said, “We have a wonderful team of medical assistants caring for patients in our Adult Ambulatory Clinics. Recognizing Stacey Bair-Taylor was really special as she not only provides extraordinary care to patients in our Women’s Health Clinic at One Hundred Oaks, she is also our co-chair for the Medical Assistant Council. Surprising Stacey with this award at our October council meeting was super fun and so well-deserved.”
