Victoria (Vorwald) Cates University of Colorado, School of Medicine Graduate May 2024

Victoria served as a medical assistant before returning to school to complete the prerequisites necessary for medical school. She was accepted to the University of Colorado School of Medicine in 2020 and will graduate in May 2024.

What is the most important thing you learned during your time as a medical assistant? As a medical assistant, I learned how important it is to effectively communicate with and educate patients. Medical terminology can be confusing, and diagnoses can be difficult to hear and understand. Working at BV Derm taught me that meeting patients with empathy and respect is critical to quality healthcare.

Do you have any memories you’d like to share about your time with BV Derm? Many of the memories I cherish from BV Derm include working with the medical assistants and staff members. Everyone here is dedicated to serving patients, as well as serving each other. Since the medical assistants all hope to pursue further education, we are able to support one another throughout our journey.

What did you learn from the team at BV Derm? Working with the team taught me the importance of delivering compassionate, high-quality care to patients, gathering detailed information to effectively understand and communicate with patients, and giving back to future generations who hope to someday become physicians and physician assistants.

What are you doing now? I will graduate medical school in May of 2024. I am currently doing research in cardiovascular disease outcomes and substance abuse disorders. I plan to do an Internal Medicine residency and eventually become an Interventional Cardiologist.

How did BV Derm help you prepare? Medical school is challenging but I felt fortunate going into it with strong work experience from BV Derm and was immediately prepared to work with patients. I view my time with BV Derm as essential to me becoming a successful medical student and feeling confident in my skills.

What advice would you give to those contemplating a career in medicine? The key to success is balancing work and life. I recommend treating school like a full-time job where you clock out to make time for yourself through exercise, cooking, spending time with friends or anything else that brings you fulfillment. The journey is long and somehow both flies by and drags on, so it is critical to pace yourself and check-in to ensure you are happy along the way.

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Medical Assistants at BV Derm

Many of our Medical Assistants have used their experience at BV Derm to launch successfully into medical school, physician assistant programs and nursing school. If you’re a college graduate with a degree in science, you can gain valuable experience as a Medical Assistant in our thriving medical practice. Consider the benefits of working here:

• Leading Dermatology Practice in Lafayette, Boulder & Brighton
• Board-Certified Dermatologists
• Medical, Surgical and Cosmetic Clinics
• Treating Patients of Every Age
• Innovative and Principled
• Competitive Compensation & Scheduling

For more information, please contact our Practice Administrator, Kelly Kenyon, at: kkenyon@bvderm.com or 303-604-1444