Celebrating Our People – Meet Shayla

A certified medical assistant in the float pool for the Lexington market, Shayla is recognizable for her unique and creative accessories and her unwavering advocacy for her patients’ health and well-being.

“People love the tie-dye Crocs and the glitter,” Shayla said. “It’s fun to be a little extra, and you never know who's day you might brighten up. I love to play around in the paint and glitter. My mom was big into making things. When I had my daughter, that sparked me into getting creative with her.”

Shayla found her way to health care after wanting a change from her previous job. Shayla said choosing the health care field was easy. When she was in high school, her mom received treatment for her chronic migraines caused by undiagnosed hypertension.

“She had an operation, and then for months, she was [missing work] for migraines and headaches,” Shayla said. “After she switched her doctors, the doctor said my mom was within stroke level because of high blood pressure. The doctor said he was surprised she didn’t have a stroke. Ever since then, she’s been fine.”

Shayla started school with the intention of earning a degree to become a medical office clerk, but her teachers encouraged her to pursue a certified medical assistant degree.

“My teachers thought I should apply to the medical assistance program, but I said ‘No, I have a weak stomach; I can’t do it.’ at first,” Shayla said. “I thought about it and decided to try it and I loved it.”

Since becoming a CMA, Shayla said she feels she found her calling to help others through advocacy and education, especially when on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I continuously educate the patients and those around about why we implemented these safety policies,” Shayla said. “I’m always an advocate for passing down information to help everyone because that’s how we will get through this [pandemic].

“I had two people very close to me get COVID-19, and they just couldn’t fight it off. That’s why I tell people to get vaccinated and [follow safety precautions].”

Despite the challenges Shayla faced during the pandemic, she wants to continue her education and go to nursing school in the near future. In her free time, she said she enjoys creating custom tumbler cups, badge reels and hand-sewn masks with her mom, her sister, and her 10-year-old daughter.