This week’s spotlight is on Rachel Gray, PTA, a Non-Clinical 101 graduate who is now Clinical Placement Coordinator for Millersville University!
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What is your full name, title, and company name for your current, primary role?
Rachel Gray, PTA — Clinical Placement Coordinator for Millersville University
Where are you located?
New Oxford, PA.
Where did you go to PTA school, and what year did you graduate?
Central Penn, 2005.
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If you’re a Non-Clinical 101 student, you can network with many of our spotlight participants in the alumni groups!
What did you do when you first finished school, and for how long?
I worked as a PTA in a number of different settings for 16 years.
In what setting(s) did you work, and what types of patients did you treat?
I worked in outpatient, hospital, long term care, and home health.
What did you enjoy about your early roles?
I enjoyed the different types of diagnoses we treated in outpatient therapy. It was a great place to get started in and learn more hands-on techniques.
Home health was my favorite though. I enjoyed seeing patients in their own homes and playing a role in helping them either age in place or recover in the comfort of their own home. I developed a lot of good relationships with my patients and enjoyed traveling from home to home.
When and why did you decide to do something non-clinical?
I wasn’t exactly looking to get out of patient care, but that door closed and another door opened. A group of us were let go from home care when the company was downsizing, so naturally, I was free to pursue other avenues.
What are you doing these days?
Someone I met through a side hustle knew that I was out of work, knew my background, and contacted me to see if I was interested in something part time. Yes!
I now work full time, remotely for Millersville University’s advanced practice nursing programs. My responsibilities include:
- Helping students secure preceptors for their clinical rotations
- Handling affiliation agreements with medical groups
- Tracking student plans
- Other administrative assistant duties
Are you still treating patients, or are you solely non-clinical?
I am no longer treating patients; I am solely non-clinical.
How long have you been in your current clinical placement coordinator role?
Since August 2021.
Did you get any special certifications or training along the way to help you get into your current role?
I did take the Non-Clinical 101 course in 2020, which helped me reword my resume for non-patient care positions.
How did you find your job? Did you apply or find it through a connection?
I found it through a connection.
Did you do anything special to your resume and cover letter to land the job?
Yes, I used the advice from Non-Clinical 101 to help me reword my resume and highlight my strengths for non-clinical roles.
Plus, you’ll get early access to curated non-clinical job listings and a bonus lesson on AI!
What was the interview like for the clinical placement coordinator role?
Because it was just post-Covid, my interview was done through Zoom with some of the faculty members. I then went to view the campus and meet some of the faculty and staff in person.
How have people reacted to you leaving patient care?
They were surprised but happy to hear that I found something remote, so I could be with my four children. Previously, I was relying on my mother and mother-in-law to do my babysitting, which was stressful.
What’s a typical day or week in the life like for you? What types of tasks and responsibilities fill your time?
My tasks and responsibilities include:
- Answering emails
- Making phone calls
- Tracking student plans and requirements they may need for their clinical rotations
I also assist with the online platform used for the student courses.
What are some of the rewards of your role? What are the biggest challenges?
I love knowing that I am helping the students find clinical rotations, which gives them the hands-on learning they need to be providers in their communities.
The pool of providers out there willing to precept is shrinking, so students are really grateful to have assistance with this.
How did your clinical background prepare you for this role? Which skills transferred?
My clinical background helped me realize the importance of the role of education for future providers. I also understand the importance of having a good clinical rotation experience and developing good relationships with both the students and medical groups that I work with. I would say that people skills and solid communication skills are what transferred to this role.
What type of person do you think would do well in your role?
Definitely someone who is detail-oriented, patient, friendly, organized, proactive, flexible, and has initiative.
Do you work remotely or onsite?
What is a typical career path for someone in your clinical placement coordinator role?
There really is not a career path in this role. The duties expand as the program expands.
What is next for you? What are your high-level career aspirations?
I am pursuing my bachelor’s degree as a health care administrator, but I am unsure what I will do when I have completed that since I enjoy what I do.
What would you recommend to someone who is considering going into a role like yours? Do you have any special words of wisdom for the readers?
Local colleges and universities may have secretarial or administrative positions open, so keep an eye out for those options as well.
