Career turmoil prompted Lisa Wagoner of Boonville to return to Surrey Community College to pursue a degree in medical administration. She was 48 when she returned to school.
“I was close. I was thinking about going back to school for a year before I had classes. I thought, ‘Am I too old for this? ‘” can i really do this? Do I have guts?” she said. “Then I thought, ‘You gotta do it.’ You just gotta see the end.”
Wagoner described himself as a timid shy person. Her family of her three brothers and one sister moved to Forsyth County from Texas during her senior year of high school because her father found work in the area.
“I’ve always wanted to work in an office since high school. I always wanted to be a teacher. I helped teachers grade papers. I’ve always been in paperwork and offices.” I loved my job.”
Wagoner worked for Walmart for 29 years, holding various roles at various locations in Winston-Salem and Moxville. She worked as a cashier, worked in retail management, and spent 15 years in the accounts payable department.
“I really enjoyed working in the billing office and paying bills. Matching orders and comparing them to claims. It was really meticulous work,” she said.
Walmart centralized accounts payable work at headquarters and Wagoner lost his job.
“It was really hard for me. I worked at Walmart for nine years and kept applying for office jobs. she said.
Wagoner then began managing Walmart’s Vision Center in Moxville.
“I was there for four years. I wanted to go back to school and finish my degree so I could work in an office environment,” Wagoner said. “I wasn’t a licensed optician, so my access to the Vision Center was limited. I did.”
In December 2021, Wagoner began working at Novant Salem Family Medicine in Winston-Salem, where he is Patient Services Coordinator III. She checks people in for appointments, schedules appointments, collects payments, and helps patients on the phone.
“I love being at my computer. I fax prescriptions and scan information into patient charts. “I do paperwork,” she said. “I like working with patients. Most of them are really nice. My desk is in the reception area. We play an important role in making them feel comfortable, and we are the first and last person they see.”
SCC’s Clinic Administration program offers a degree, diploma, and three certificates, including Clinic Administration, Medical Claims, Insurance, and Patient Services Representative. This program prepares students for employment as medical administrators in the fields of medical billing and coding, dental offices, patient services, and medical documentation.
“All my instructors were kind and helpful,” said Wagoner. “They were more than happy to answer any questions. I really enjoyed the flexibility of the online class. Had the program been in person, I wouldn’t have been able to.”
She offered advice to other students who were thinking of going back to school later.
“I have no choice but to go back to school. Get a degree and you’ll have a better life. Remember you’re doing this for your own future,” she said.
Wagoner said many of the computer programs he learned at Surry have helped him in his work. She is familiar with her Microsoft products such as Excel and Word. She can type her 40 words in her minute. She graduated with a degree in Medical Administration from her SCC in May 2022.
For questions regarding college applications, financial aid, or class registration, please contact Student & Workforce Services at 336-386-3264 or [email protected].
