Faculty Highlight – Rachel Pairsh

I had some very big shoes to fill when I took over as Director of the Peninsula College Medical Assisting Program in 2013. Jen Gouge had directed the program for almost 20 years before retiring. I am a proud PC alumnus, and had worked as Jen’s assistant while in the program. The strong connections I had with the program helped me to assume the responsibility of educating and training future generations of dedicated healthcare professionals.

Since graduating from the program in 2010, I have gone on to earn my Medical Assisting – Certified credential from the Washington State Department of Health; a National Certified Medical Assistant credential from the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT); a Certified Postsecondary Instructor credential from the NCCT; and a Certificate in Connected Adult Education from Renton Technical College. In addition, I have earned my Train-the-Trainer certificate in order to provide the Kitsap Public Health Region 2 Triage and Treatment curriculum to my students. Recently, I was asked to present my training materials at the upcoming State Board of Community and Technical Colleges’ (SBCTC) Center of Excellence in Allied Health Deans and Directors meeting in Seattle, in coordination with the SBCTC’s Center of Excellence in Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

After I graduated from the MA program, I honed my skills in various healthcare settings on the Peninsula, including at Jamestown Family Health and Olympic Medical Physicians. Connections with local employers have benefitted my students, as I am able to facilitate supply and equipment donations, guest lectures, networking events, and other opportunities for our students with local employers and healthcare workers.

Students of today are the providers of tomorrow, and Peninsula College has always had a great reputation for their support of their students, faculty and staff. PC and the Medical Assisting Program are fully committed to helping our students achieve success, wherever their life journey takes them.

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