At Providence Swedish, specialty care clinics span everything from heart and vascular health to neurology, sleep medicine, orthopedics and more.

With locations across the Puget Sound region, these clinics give patients access to focused expertise while still providing the personal connections of an outpatient setting. For caregivers, they offer the chance to build meaningful careers in highly specialized fields.

Registered nurses (RNs) and medical assistants (MAs) are at the heart of this work. They support providers, coordinate care and often build long-term relationships with patients managing complex conditions.

We talked with five specialty clinic supervisors about their career journeys, their teams and why they love working in specialty care at Providence Swedish.

Career paths with real growth

The supervisors we spoke with shared how their careers took different turns, but all emphasized the support they received along the way.

Jeannine, a clinic supervisor for Spine and Sport, went from barista to clinic supervisor, explaining how Swedish supported her growth. “I started in medical records, then front desk, then lead of the patient services support team, then moved into the coordinator role,” she says. “Now I’m a clinic supervisor and I went back to school to get my medical assisting certificate. Swedish paid 100% of my schooling. I didn’t pay a dime.”

Janice, a clinic supervisor for neurosurgery, began as an MA after her father’s heart attack inspired her to join the healthcare field. She built support groups for young patients and moved into leadership. “I’m one of those people that started at the bottom and worked my way up. That’s a possibility for anybody here if they’re willing to do it.”

Louise also started as a MA; she’s now Supervisor of Clinic Operations for the Adult Epilepsy Clinic, the Pediatric Neurology Clinic, and the Movement Disorders Clinic in the Neuroscience Institute at the Cherry Hill campus. She says she couldn’t have made the career advancements she’s made without the support she’s been given. “I’ve received a lot of mentorship here, and that’s something that I value,” shares Louise.

Collaboration that makes specialty care stronger

Across clinics and specialties, supervisors agree on one thing—the people make the job.

Janice shares, “The place that I work at, these guys are like my family. I spend more time with them than I do with the people I live with. As patients come in the door, you want to treat them like family, too.”

Jeannine emphasizes the fun part of working together, saying, “We laugh and joke all day—even the providers tell dad jokes. Food brings us together too. Potlucks, donuts—there’s so much wonderful collaboration that comes from just sitting down and eating together.”

The team’s connection goes beyond the lighthearted moments. Audrey, Manager for Sleep Medicine, says, “We come together as a team to help each other We challenge everyone to lean in and speak up. It’s a level playing field, and the level of engagement is definitely a plus.”

Benefits support the whole person

Supervisors highlighted the strong benefits that support them and their teams every day.

Audrey emphasizes the comprehensive coverage, saying, “The benefits package is very competitive—medical, dental, life insurance, and retirement.”

Jeannine appreciates both the physical and mental health benefits. “Swedish offers a gym membership and mental health coverage without a copay. It supports the mission statement in helping people improve because it starts with us.”

Danelle, the Senior Manager of Clinic Operations for Swedish Heart and Vascular Institute, notes, “I feel like so many people could use someone to talk to. Not every employer offers specifically mental health services for free.”

Advice for people considering a clinic career

If you’re looking at healthcare roles, especially medical assistant jobs, here’s what these leaders suggest:

• Danelle: “Medical assisting is such a great opportunity for people starting their journey in healthcare. From there, you can move into nursing, PA school, leadership, or other specialties.”
• Janice: “If you’re really interested in being in healthcare but you don’t know where you want to be, start with the float pool. There are options within the company to figure out where you want to go eventually.”
• Louise: “Your day-to-day is the team you’re on. Understanding the supervisor’s mission for the team and how they value the input of the people that work on the team is really important.”

Explore open roles at Providence Swedish

If you’re starting out as an MA, specialty clinics offer meaningful careers where you can grow, belong and make a difference. Explore open roles >