Nina Thierer

Nina Thierer, CMA, BS, CPC, CCAT is an Associate Professor at Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana at the Fort Wayne Campus. She has been teaching at her current institution since 1989. Ms. Thierer teaches in the Medical Assisting Program and has taught a variety of courses which include clinical skills and advanced clinical skills, administrative procedures, financial management of the medical office, medical insurance, medical terminology and advanced medical terminology and even a couple of massage classes. Ms. Thierer has an Associate in Applied Science in Medical Assisting (from Ivy Tech) and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.

Ms. Thierer is a Certified Medical Assistant and a Certified Professional Coder. She is also a CPR instructor for the American Heart Association and a member of the AAMA.

Nina Thierer has been married since July 1977. Her husband is a MRI/CT Tech at a local hospital. She and her husband have a 26-year-old son and a wonderful daughter-in-law. Her son is an LPN (graduate of Ivy Tech) and a Certified Pharmacy Technician. He is attending Midwestern University in Phoenix to be a pharmacist. Her daughter-in-law is a manager for American Eagle in Phoenix. Ms. Thierer also has a 6-year-old Boxer named Abby and two Grandpets: Tucker, the dog, and Snickers, the cat.

Ms. Thierer also works as a consultant to train and assist medical offices in using Medisoft, a Medical Practice Management Software.

Deborah Nelson

Deborah Nelson, MS., CMA (AAMA), RMA (AMT), Associate Dean for Health Science at Baker College of Flint, Michigan holds a Masters of Science Degree in Health Education from the University of Michigan-Flint and a Bachelor's of Science in Allied Health Management from Madonna University.

Her career in healthcare has included both hospital and medical office experience in the clinical, administrative and insurance billing aspects of Medical Assisting. Mrs. Nelson has worked as a healthcare educator in Medical Assisting for over 30 years. Mrs. Nelson currently oversees the Medical Assisting Program as the System Program Coordinator for all the Baker College Campuses across Michigan. Mrs. Nelson is dedicated to providing quality educational opportunities for our future healthcare workers.

Judy K. Ward

Judy K. Ward, BS, CMA(AAMA), NREMT-P, PBT(ASCP), is Medical Assisting Departmental Co-Chair at Ivy Tech Community College-Central Indiana in Indianapolis. She has received several undergraduate degrees from Ball State University and is scheduled to complete her master’s in Healthcare Education from the Western Governor’s University in 2009. She attended Medical School at Indiana University before choosing a career in Emergency Medicine as an EMT, then Paramedic. Her background in broadcasting, journalism, photography, and marketing lead her through a vast array of professional ventures and an extremely successful career with the United States Marine Corps before landing at “home” in the medical field. She has more than fifteen years teaching experience serving as instructor in the areas of EMS, Allied Health, Phlebotomy, Pharmacology, Laboratory Medicine and Procedures, EKG Techniques, and Clinical Skills. She was a contributing Subject Matter Expert on the first-ever internet-based virtual Medical Assisting simulator, the ActivSim, and continues to work on various other computer simulation and intelligent learning projects with Area9 Healthcare, Inc. in Denmark. She has presented at numerous national and regional workshops and seminars on teaching methods, student success, educational technology, and various phlebotomy-related topics. Having traveled the world, Judy now resides in Indianapolis and gets her academic “batteries” recharged daily by the 400+ Medical Assisting students enrolled at the Indianapolis campus.

LaTanya Young

LaTanya Young, MMSc., MPH, RMA, PA-C is a licensed and certified Physician Assistant and Registered Medical Assistant. She has over 13 years of experience in Family Medicine and Women’s Health. Ms. Young trained as a Physician Assistant and earned a Master of Medical Science Degree from Emory University School of Medicine and earned a Master of Public Health Degree from University of California, Los Angeles. Ms. Young is currently serving as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Care Management at Clayton State University. Ms. Young is committed to the health and well-being of people and volunteers her time, skill and educational background to organizations which promote prevention and wellness.