Working in Groups

Working in Groups

Medical assistants rarely work alone. You’ll collaborate with nurses, providers, front-office staff, and other professionals as part of an interprofessional team. AMA mirrors this real-world teamwork so you can practice communication, accountability, and flexibility in a safe training environment.

Staying Connected

You and your group can decide how to work together. Some options include:

  • Populi Groups (already created for you): discussion, chat, and file sharing all in one place.

  • Messaging apps like WhatsApp or Snapchat for quick communication.

  • Video meetings (Zoom, Google Meet, etc.) for planning and recording.

Choose the tools that work best for your team and agree on them early in the collaboration.

Breaking the Work Into Chunks

Every group member is expected to contribute to the final product. To keep things manageable, divide up responsibilities. One person may take on multiple roles, and roles can shift as needed. For example, here are some roles you may take on during AMA Week:

  • Group Facilitator – keeps the group on track and ensures deadlines are met.

  • Case Sleuth – digs deep into the patient case details.

  • Compiler-in-Chief – pulls everyone’s work into one draft.

  • Polisher – edits for clarity and accuracy.

  • Storyboarder – outlines the presentation flow.

  • Spotlight Speakers – present the case in the recording.

  • Conversation Starters – ask good questions of other groups.

  • Responder-in-Chief – monitors and replies to discussion posts about your group’s case.

Challenges of Group Work (and How to Solve Them)

Working with others isn’t always smooth. Here are a few common challenges—and strategies to handle them:

  • Different schedules → Use shared tools (like Populi or group chats) to set deadlines and coordinate availability early.

  • Uneven participation → Be upfront about expectations. If someone is falling behind, check in with them and reassign tasks if needed.

  • Disagreements → Focus on the goal, not individual preferences. Compromise and keep things professional.

  • Last-minute crunch → Avoid it by setting mini-deadlines throughout the week so the group stays on track.

  • When to escalate → If your group has tried to resolve an issue but progress has stalled, it’s time to reach out to your instructor. 

How to Be a Good Group Member

Here are a few ways to be a strong group member:

  • Deliver on your promises. If you agree to take on a task, follow through.

  • Be flexible. Since this is a group project, the final product may not look exactly like you envisioned—and that’s okay.

  • Practice patience. Great teamwork takes time and practice.

  • Stay positive. Groups that encourage one another often create better work together than they could alone.

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