Leadership
Meet the 2023-2024 MSMA Officers!
For contact information for any member of the Board of Directors, please click the following link: BOD Directory
President Christa Smith, CMA (AAMA)
My name is Christa Smith and I am your President. Other officer positions I have held are President, Immediate Past President, and Speaker of the House. I have been a member of MSMA for 26 years, and part of the BOD for at least 12 years. I was first certified in 1994, working in a Neurosurgery office. Since then, I have changed offices and work in a Vascular and General Surgery practice as the Team Leader for the Medical Assistant Department and Surgery Scheduler. I have a deep passion for this organization. The learning, teaching, mentoring and fellowship we bring every 3-4 months is OUTSTANDING! I have also found some of my most cherished, life-long best friends. On a more personal note, I have been married for 19 years to Dan and we have two children, Gabe 17 and Matthew 9. These are my loves! Every day there is something new with these boys.
President Elect - Vacant
Vice President Tracie Hardy, CMA (AAMA)
Tracie Hardy, CMA (AAMA) is the Vice President. She has been involved with MSMA and the Northwest Chapter of MSMA since 2000. She served on the MSMA Board for 19 years as a member of the history, journal, bylaws, budget and Finance, insurance advisory, documents review, ways and means and conference liaison committees. She has served as chair of the following committees: Journal, Fall Conference, Spring Convention, Winter Conference, Insurance Advisory and Ways and Means. She has served as an officer of MSMA as Vice Speaker, Speaker of the House, Secretary and Vice President. She has served her chapter as President, President Elect, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Public Relations Chair, Publication Chair, Membership Chair and has volunteered with various community outreach programs. She has been married for 31 years and has two daughters. She works full time as a medical billing manager and in her spare time enjoys reading and crafts.
Secretary Mistie Atkins, CMA (AAMA)
Hi, I’m Mistie Atkins and I have been a CMA for 20 years. I am a practice manager at Munson Family Practice Residency program. I have been with Munson Healthcare for 20 years. I am very passionate about Medical Assisting profession. I do a lot of education in our organization regarding Medical Assistant credentials and scope of practice. I am immediate past president of the Northwest Chapter. I’ve been involved with MSMA for over 15 years and have been on various committees as a chair and as a member.
Treasurer Leigh Newell, CMA (AAMA)
Hi, my name is Leigh. I have been a CMA (AAMA) for 25 years and have worked as a practitioner for family practice, OB/GYN, and internal medicine. I have been active on the MSMA Board of Directors since 1999, either as an officer, chair, or committee member.
Speaker of the House Jennifer Bozung, CMA (AAMA)
My name is Jennifer Bozung and I have been a Certified Medical Assistant for 11 years. I am also the current President of the Greater Kent County Chapter of Medical Assistants.
Vice Speaker of the House Kathy Stuut, CMA (AAMA)
I have been a Certified Medical Assistant-Administrative for over 30 years. I have worked in OB-GYN, Cardiology, and Rheumatology, mainly as an office manager. I have served on the MSMA Board for many years as an officer, committee chair, or committee member. I am a Past President of this organization and currently President of the Southwest Chapter.
Immediate Past President Cindy Harleton, CMA (AAMA)
Hello, my name is Cindy. I have been a medical assistant since 1983 and certified since 1986. I have been on the MSMA Board for 20+ years and served on the Executive Committee, including as a Past State President. It has been an honor and my pleasure to serve this organization.
What duties may be delegated to a medical assistant in the state of MI?
Donald A. Balasa, JD, MBA, chief executive officer and legal counsel for the American Association of Medical Assistants, has written his legal opinion regarding the duties within the medical assistant’s scope of practice that may be delineated to medical assistants practicing in Michigan and has provided additional resources to help answer this frequently asked question.
Additional information regarding state-specific scope of practice laws can be found on the AAMA website. If you are still not able to find answers, there is a contact form at the bottom of their web page that allows you to send a query to Donald Balasa, JD, MBA.