A Fresh Start Led Sacramento Medical Assistant Student to a Career in Healthcare
When Anjali Khang left home at 18, her immediate priority was securing a safe place to stay. At the same time, she was searching for a viable foundation upon which to build her future.
For more than a year, she lived in a youth shelter while working retail and food-service jobs. College plans had been interrupted by family circumstances, leaving her initial goals feeling distant and uncertain.
“I was trying to find a passion,” Anjali recalled. “I didn’t want to stay stuck in retail. I wanted to find a path where I could continuously learn and actually build a career.”
That search led her to UEI College in Sacramento, where she enrolled in the Medical Assistant program.
Today, Anjali serves as a Referral Lead at the Sacramento Native American Health Center (SNAHC). In her role, she coordinates specialty care for patients while continuing to work toward her long-term goal of entering medical imaging.
Building a Foundation in Healthcare
With her mother having worked in medicine, healthcare was always present in the back of Anjali’s mind. She admired both the career stability the field offered and the profound opportunity to support others.
“I’ve always been the type of person who looks after my family,” she said. “I knew I could channel that same dedication into caring for patients.”
Before enrolling, Anjali thoroughly researched regional institutions, reviewed graduate feedback, and sought a program structured to fit both her life circumstances and professional aspirations.
“It was close to where I lived, and hearing about other students’ experiences gave me confidence,” she said. “Financial aid also helped make tuition manageable.”
Re-entering the classroom after extensive personal upheaval felt intimidating, but any initial apprehension quickly dissipated once instruction began.
“The campus community was very welcoming,” she noted. “My peers were encouraging, and the faculty was genuinely invested in our progress. You could tell people really wanted you to succeed.”
The curriculum’s emphasis on practical, laboratory-based learning proved especially valuable. Mastering competencies such as administering injections, pharmacology basics, measuring vital signs, and patient triage built her clinical confidence and confirmed she was in the right field.
One instructor who joined later in her program made a lasting impression.
“She always made sure we followed proper protocols and technique,” Anjali said. “Whenever something was unclear, she took the time to work through it until we got it right. She made me feel valued as a student.”
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Gaining Experience and Finding Success
Anjali completed her mandatory externship at a naturopathic health center in Sacramento. The assignment provided extensive hands-on experience in patient check-in workflows, electronic medical records (EMR) navigation, vital signs collection, routine injections, and daily clinical collaboration.
“It was an intimate clinic setting, which allowed me to connect closely with the staff,” she said. “I gained significant insight into patient communication and medical office management.”
Following program completion, Anjali remained disciplined in her job search, initially securing a role as a referral processor before transitioning to the Sacramento County Health Center.
Today, she serves as a Referral Lead at the Sacramento Native American Health Center, overseeing complex specialty referrals and serving as an operational resource for both patients and clinical staff.
“I really enjoy the work,” Anjali said. “I collaborate with an exceptional healthcare team, assist patients directly, and manage complex administrative workflows. I’m naturally organized, so the responsibilities align well with my strengths.”
While grateful for her current career traction, Anjali views her position as an intermediate step. She plans to leverage her clinical background to return to school and train as an X-ray technologist.
Looking back, Anjali reflects on how quickly deliberate steps can reshape a life.
“I never envisioned life looking like it does today,” she said. “I’m deeply grateful for the community resources that supported me—including the youth housing program at the Sacramento LGBT Community Center—and everyone who encouraged me to keep moving forward. Looking back, it’s remarkable to see how much progress was made.”
For prospective students considering medical assisting at the College, Anjali stresses that starting points do not dictate final outcomes.
“I learned practical skills, built a network of great people, and gained real clinical experience,” she said. “Never hesitate to seek guidance. There are people ready to help you succeed.”
