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Mrs. Ross’s Story

My name is Robin Gary-Ross, but my students know me as Mrs. Ross.

My journey into the medical field was not perfect, easy, or traditional. I dropped out of high school and became a mother at the age of 19. For a period of my life, I depended on government and housing assistance while trying to figure out what direction my life would take.

Later, I discovered that I had ADHD and dyslexia, which helped me understand why school had always been challenging for me. But I refused to allow those challenges to determine how my story would end.

With encouragement from my husband, I went back and earned my GED. We have now been married for more than 20 years and have raised two children together.

When I decided to become a Medical Assistant, I had absolutely no medical background. I was starting from scratch.

Then, during my very first week of Medical Assistant school, I got the flu and missed approximately two weeks of class. I was already behind before I really had a chance to get started.

But I kept going.

After completing my program and externship, I was hired in the medical field. When it was time to take my certification exam, I failed the first time.

That failure could have made me quit.

Instead, I changed the way I studied.

I developed my own strategies for breaking information down, reviewing difficult material, practicing questions, and focusing on the areas I struggled with the most.

I took the certification exam again — and I passed.

More than 13 years later, my journey brought me back to the same school I once attended, except this time I returned as a Medical Assistant Instructor.

Today, I have the privilege of teaching students who remind me of myself — students who may be struggling academically, balancing family responsibilities, working through personal problems, doubting themselves, or wondering whether they are capable of finishing the program and becoming certified.

That is one of the reasons I created Mrs. Ross’s CMA Mastery Series.

I wanted to create the type of study resources I wish I had when I was a student: materials that break difficult medical concepts into manageable pieces, provide plenty of practice, and help students understand not only what they need to know, but how to study it.

I tell my students that obstacles are going to come. You may have childcare problems. Your car may break down. Your child may get sick. You may hear people tell you that you are too old, that you chose the wrong school, that there are no jobs, or that you cannot do it.

Keep going anyway.

I know what it feels like to struggle.

I know what it feels like to fail.

And I also know what can happen when you refuse to give up.

My goal is not simply to help students pass an exam. My goal is to help them become confident, knowledgeable, professional Medical Assistants who are prepared to care for real patients.

Faith without works is dead.

You have to believe — but you also have to do the work.

And always remember:

Nothing is impossible with God.

— Robin Gary-Ross, CMA
Medical Assistant Instructor & Mentor
Creator of Mrs. Ross’s CMA Mastery Series