A medical assistant is a healthcare professional that works alongside doctors, nurses, and other healthcare staff. Medical assistants are found in physicians' offices, hospitals, clinics, and a variety of other locations. In some larger facilities, they are oftentimes specialized in a particular area, whether clinical or administrative. In smaller practices, a medical assistant will likely be found performing a variety of both administrative and clinical tasks and helping to keep the office running smoothly.

In the Ross Dental Assistant school program, students will be instructed on clinical as well as administrative skills relevant to the dental office. Training program instructors with experience in the field provide instruction to students on many necessary skills including radiograph processing, preparing and disposing of anesthetic, taking and recording vital signs, and taking impressions.Additionally, training program students are presented with important terminology and basic administrative tasks such as preparing a new patient chart, filing medical records, scheduling appointments, and completing insurance claim forms. Once students successfully complete the school program, they should be prepared to seek entry-level positions as dental assistants or receptionists, insurance clerks, supply salespeople, and/or administrative assistants.