Career Spotlight: Medical Assisting

A Healthcare Career Blending Clinical and Administrative Skills

Medical assistants are an essential part of the healthcare system, combining clinical skills with administrative expertise to keep clinics and outpatient offices running smoothly. They help patients navigate the healthcare system and assist healthcare providers with appointments. This includes a wide variety of tasks, from office management and scheduling to more hands-on activities like collecting and preparing labs or taking vital signs.

"Medical assistants are truly the heartbeat of a healthcare team," said Gwen Mahloch, Medical Assisting program director at Hawkeye Community College. "We bridge the gap between patients and providers by offering both clinical and administrative support. The variety keeps every day exciting and rewarding."

Some medical assistants work in hospitals, but the majority work in doctors' offices, outpatient clinics, or residential care facilities. Their duties often include a mix of administrative work and hands-on medical tasks, a balance that can help workers avoid burnout.

"For many, the profession offers a structured and balanced work life — typically no nights, no weekends, and no holidays, unless working in urgent care or express care settings," Mahloch said. "It's a career that allows for meaningful patient interaction without the high demands of hospital shift work."

There is increased demand for medical assistants across the country, and in Iowa the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 26.7 percent increase in medical assistant jobs by 2026. Hawkeye Community College launched its Medical Assisting program in fall 2018 to meet this growing need. Students in Hawkeye’s program learn the skills necessary to care for patients and assist healthcare providers, including taking vital signs, collecting and preparing labs and diagnostic tests, administering medication, collecting and recording data, and educating patients. They also learn administrative clinic duties, like office management and procedures, scheduling and billing practices, procedural and diagnostic coding, and third-party reimbursement.

"As a graduate, I can say the profession is more than a job — it's a calling," said Angela Williams, a 2025 graduate of Hawkeye's Medical Assistant program. "Patients remember the medical assistant who made them feel comfortable, explained things clearly, and cared about their health journey. That's what makes this work so rewarding."

How Medical Assistants Differ from Practical Nurses

While both medical assistants and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) play vital roles in healthcare, their focus and scope differ. Medical assistants are uniquely cross-trained, providing both clinical and administrative support. In a typical day, a medical assistant may take vitals, administer injections, run lab tests, assist with procedures, schedule appointments, and manage medical records.

LPNs, in contrast, focus more on direct bedside care, often working in hospitals or long-term care facilities under the supervision of registered nurses or physicians. Medical assistants thrive in outpatient and ambulatory care settings, where their versatility makes them essential to the smooth flow of patient care.

Learn more about the Medical Assistant program