Surgical Assistant & Patient Care Consultant
Our energetic Surgical Assistant/Patient Care Consultant Michel truly delights in every aspect of her role at Atlanta Face & Body. That includes everything from setting up procedure rooms to prepping patients for surgery, assisting Dr. Elizabeth during surgery, post-operative care, and educating patients and caregivers on post-op instructions, among other important duties.
Born and raised in Michoacan, Mexico, her course to a medical-related career was set at a young age due to her experience with a beloved grandmother who was diabetic with renal insufficiencies. Young Michel took it upon herself to learn everything she could about the condition so she could help in any way possible.
After moving to Georgia in adulthood, Michel officially pursued her passion for a medical vocation at Fortis College in Smyrna, followed by Chattahoochee Technical College in Marietta. Her hard work paid off when she proudly became a Certified Medical Assistant.
Michel has subsequently served in the medical field since 2013 and loved every minute of it. Her first official position was a medical assistant in internal medicine followed by working in cardiology. She’s also trained in phlebotomy and has worked as a patient care technician at Piedmont Hospital. To this day, she continues to work part-time as a CMA (Certified Medical Assistant) at Piedmont. Each position has further fueled Michel’s drive to continue her medical trajectory that was initiated years ago.
“I always knew I wanted to be in the medical field from day one. I love helping others” she said. “I’m the type of person that doesn’t like to stay in one place. I like to go up. So, wherever life takes me, that’s where I go. I’m so thankful it brought me to Atlanta Face & Body. I absolutely love my job.”
Being fluent in both Spanish and English further aids Michel in fulfilling a crucial role as the translator for our Spanish-speaking patients. A self-proclaimed extrovert, Michel will tell you she likes to talk a lot. Therefore, speaking two languages certainly comes in handy for the woman who never meets a stranger.
“I love everything about working with patients because I talk to them a lot,” Michel laughed. “I always try to focus on little things they tell me at first, so when they come back, I know what to talk about. That helps them know I’m familiar with them. I have a very good memory, and I’m a social butterfly.”
Michel delights in her interactions with all patients. But helping to put her fellow Spanish-speaking patients at ease adds a little extra fulfillment for her.
“I love that they trust me. When you get to talk to someone in their own language, everything switches and there’s just this big trust component,” she said. “You have someone who speaks your language and can explain things to you in more detail.”
Everyone can have certain anxieties about surgery, but it can be especially apprehensive for those struggling with a language barrier. That’s when Michel endearingly comes to the rescue.
“When they come in for surgery, they can be really nervous. I just say ‘Michel is here,’ and I try to calm them down and talk to them,” she said. “Sometimes, as soon as a patient knows somebody here speaks Spanish, you can immediately tell the difference in their face and demeanor. But no matter what language they speak, it’s important for me that I make conversations with patients so they feel comfortable. I’ve had surgeries myself, so I understand.”
As far as cosmetic surgery (which Michel has witnessed virtually all of Dr. Elizabeth’s procedures), the positive results never fail to impress her. But her favorite would have to be Dr. Elizabeth’s Signature Lift™ (Facelift).
“The way Dr. Elizabeth sutures is just amazing,” Michel said. “She’s very meticulous. We see a big difference. The patients are so happy with their results and it’s awesome. It’s such a nice feeling to be a part of that.”
Working alongside Dr. Elizabeth in the surgery center just reiterates to Michel that she’s exactly where she’s meant to be.
“She’s a caring person for sure,” Michel said. “She really listens to her patients. I just like everything about her. She’s a great surgeon.”
Michel’s spare time is mostly spent with her three children. She’s also a huge music lover, so when she’s not talking, she’s singing along to her favorite tunes. In fact, Michel attributes Alicia Keys with helping her perfect her English as well as influences from Dolly Parton. As you can tell, Michel’s range of musical interest is quite diverse.
