Certified Medical Assistants - Healthcare's Most Versatile Profession
Certified Medical Assistants - Healthcare's Most Versatile Profession
The New Jersey Society of Medical Assistants (NJSMA) is a non-profit organization established to enable medical assisting professionals to enhance and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and professionalism required by employers and patients. We also protect the medical assistant's right to practice and promote effective and efficient health care delivery through optimal use of multi-skilled Certified Medical Assistants.
President’s Message
Happy Summer Everyone,
The NJSMA BOT has been busy making plans for our upcoming year ahead! Our Annual Conference in April brought some changes to our Board of Directors. Susie Henderson stepped down as President and the following members were elected and installed.
2025-2026 NJSMA Board of Directors
President - Janet Shriver CMA, (AAMA)
Vice President - Marianne VanDeursen, Ed. D, CMA, (AAMA)
Treasurer - Sue Pignata, AAS
Secretary - Patty Ott, AAS, CMA (AAMA)
Speaker of the House - Nitza Sheehan AAS, CMA (AAMA)
Vice Speaker of the House - Susie Bragg, BSHA, CMA (AAMA)
Immediate Vice President - Susie Bragg, BSHA, CMA (AAMA)
During our first Meeting on April 6, committee chairs were appointed:
Membership Renee, Enders, CMA (AAMA)
Convention Nitza Sheehan, AAS, CMA (AAMA)
Nancy Fertakos, CMA (AAMA)
Database/Pulse/Website
Marianne Van Deursen, Ed.D, CMA (AAMA)
Education Patty Ott, AAS, CMA (AAMA)
We appreciate all members, students, and speakers, who were able to share in our CEU event on April 6th; without you it would not be possible. Many members were able to attend our short Board of Directors meeting where we collaborated to gain ideas for our annual conference, including the discussion of costs and location suggestions. The convention committee began searching for less expensive venues and at an emergency BOT meeting, we approved moving the conference to the Hyatt House Hotel Branchburg/Bridgewater for our 2026 Conference. The conference at the new venue has been secured at half the costs of the 2025 Conference. Please save the dates - Friday April 10 and Saturday April 11, 2026.
Please refer to our “Dates to Remember” listing on the next page for our upcoming meetings and CEU events. Thank you for taking the time to add these dates to your calendar.
Janet Shriver, CMA (AAMA)
NJSMA President