Recognizing ProHealth Physicians' Sara Monteiro, MA
December 7, 2023
October 16–20, 2023, was Medical Assistants Recognition Week. Our amazing medical assistants (MAs) play a big role in helping you get the best care when you see your doctor. We're grateful for MAs like Sara who create a positive environment to keep our patients healthy.
Finding her true calling
Sara Monteiro, MA, never thought about working in health care. "Growing up, I think I wanted to be a hairdresser," she says with a smile. "I really enjoy hair and makeup, but I now know that was definitely not a career for me."
After 12 years of working as an MA, 11 of them with ProHealth Physicians, Sara doesn't hesitate to say that helping others is her true calling. And, as Sara will tell you, that journey had a memorable beginning.
"I had a seizure when I was 14 and went to the hospital. One of the nurses really stood out. How she spoke and how down to earth she was. It made me see health care differently. I'm a nurturing and maternal person. Caring for others matches that part of my personality."
Patients love Sara. Interacting with them is precisely what she enjoys the most. "I have a few patients who ask for me when I'm not around," she says. "Hearing that makes me feel good."
"They're like 'You understand, and you don't speak to us in med talk.' It's like I'm their comfort zone. One of my patients was having a rough day, so I stopped what I was doing to take care of her. I was able to lift her spirits just with that."
That feeling of appreciation doesn't just come from patients. Sara’s supervisor, Brian Currie, Practice Manager, ProHealth Physicians Family Medicine in Colchester, CT, doesn't hesitate to sing her praises.
"It's hard to pick just one good thing to say about Sara. I truly admire her ability to adapt to changes and to respond to in-the-moment issues. She doesn't complain but immediately asks 'how can we make things work?'"
"For instance, when my phlebotomist left, Sara took on the role without hesitation and has been doing it for over 2 months now while we hire a new phlebotomist. Whatever our problem is, she engages with others in the office so we can come up with a solution."
Sara exemplifies the values of integrity, relationships, compassion and performance. And she does it with full awareness of the good and the bad.
Despite the challenges, Sara focuses her energy on living our mission. In her words, "Health care has been through a lot, but we still have the same goal — to try to keep everyone healthy."