UEI Student Pursues Healthcare Career Inspired by Family Experiences

Diamond Hernandez knew she wanted to pursue a career in patient care long before enrolling at UEI College. Her interest in healthcare began as a young teenager when her grandmother experienced three comas.

During those difficult hospital stays, Diamond remembers being troubled by how some medical staff treated her grandmother. The experience left a lasting impression on her.

“I didn’t want another person to feel what I felt when my nana was experiencing that,” Diamond said.

Later, when her father was initially misdiagnosed while experiencing a serious gallbladder problem, her determination to pursue healthcare grew even stronger.

“I want to become someone who people can rely on and go to,” she said. “And I want more empathy from nurses.”

Diamond initially enrolled at a community college to pursue nursing. But after about a year and a half, she realized earning a nursing degree would take longer than she had anticipated. Eager to begin developing practical skills and gaining experience in healthcare, she began exploring other options.

That search led her to the Medical Assistant program at UEI College in Phoenix. She enrolled, and today, she is gaining hands-on training while keeping her long-term goal of becoming a registered nurse firmly in sight.

Finding a More Hands-On Path

Diamond was already familiar with UEI College before deciding to enroll. Her mother knew someone who had attended the school, and her cousin had completed UEI’s Dental Assistant program. She had also seen advertisements for the college on YouTube.

Eventually, she decided to explore the school for herself.

What appealed to Diamond most was the supportive learning environment and the emphasis on hands-on training.

“I’m a very hands-on person,” she said. “I’m retaining the subject, but I also need to practice it.”

While attending community college, Diamond had primarily been completing general education courses, including math and English. At UEI, she found opportunities to begin practicing skills directly related to patient care.

Just a few months into the Medical Assistant program, she can already see the progress she’s making.

“I feel like I’m getting more skills,” she said. “I’m practicing more. I’m getting better.”

That progress is also reflected in her academic performance. Diamond has maintained a strong GPA and earned a place on the President’s List twice during her first few months in the program.

She credits Medical Assistant instructor Armando Villa with helping her strengthen her skills and succeed academically. Diamond particularly appreciates his willingness to provide constructive feedback and individual guidance.

“He’s giving us good information [and] good instructions, and then he’s closely watching what we’re doing,” Diamond said. “He gives us constructive criticism to where we can work on our skills, see what we need to do, and he helps us.”

Diamond is also grateful to Michael Patterson in the Phoenix admissions office, who helped her navigate the enrollment process and offered encouragement when she felt overwhelmed during orientation.

Together, those experiences have helped Diamond build both her practical skills and her confidence as she prepares for a career in healthcare.

Keeping Nursing in Her Plans

Although Diamond is focused on completing her Medical Assistant program, she hasn’t lost sight of her original ambition to become a nurse.

Instead, she views medical assisting as an opportunity to enter the healthcare field, gain valuable experience and continue working toward her long-term goals.

“After I’m done with this, I want to stay a medical assistant for two to four years,” she said. “Then after that, I want to go back to school and continue nursing to become an RN.”

Diamond has already begun thinking about the type of work she hopes to pursue.

As a medical assistant, she’s interested in working in pain management. Eventually, as a registered nurse, she hopes to work in an emergency room.

Both settings appeal to her because she enjoys staying active and wants to make a difference in the lives of patients who need care.

“You’re always on your feet, always doing something, and you’re providing care to patients,” she said. “It’s interesting, too.”

But Diamond’s motivation goes beyond finding a rewarding career.

She still remembers the uncertainty her family experienced during her grandmother’s hospitalizations and her father’s medical difficulties. Those experiences continue to shape the kind of healthcare professional she hopes to become, someone patients can trust to treat them with compassion, empathy and respect.

For now, Diamond remains focused on developing her skills, completing her Medical Assistant program and preparing to take her first steps into the healthcare workforce.

And for anyone considering returning to school or pursuing a new career, she offers a simple piece of advice.

“Go for it,” she said. “Just jump right in and go for it.”