UEI Student’s Healthcare Career Journey Began with an Unexpected Call

Shelley Fukushima was not actively seeking a career change when her phone rang one afternoon. She was in the backyard with her dog when an unfamiliar number flashed across the screen.

On the line was an admissions representative from UEI College.

“I thought, ‘Why not?’” Shelley recalled. “A career change didn’t sound like a bad idea, so I decided to go check it out.”

That spontaneous conversation served as the catalyst for something much larger. Shelley soon enrolled in the Medical Assistant program at UEI College in Riverside, distinguishing herself as one of the top scholars in her cohort and graduating as valedictorian with a perfect 4.0 GPA and flawless attendance.

Today, she continues to provide direct patient care while preparing for her California Medical Assistant certification, keeping her sights firmly set on the long-term goal of becoming a registered nurse.

Taking the Next Step in a Healthcare Career

Healthcare was already central to Shelley’s life long before enrolling at the College. She had spent years working as both a caregiver and a patient sitter—roles that crystallized her passion for helping others.

“I enjoyed taking care of people,” Shelley said. “The satisfaction and gratitude you receive afterward… I realized that’s what I wanted to keep doing.”

While she had contemplated nursing for years, the timing never aligned. Medical assisting offered a practical, immediate gateway to gain clinical hours while exploring diverse specialties across the healthcare system.

“I don’t want to be a medical assistant for the rest of my life,” she said. “It’s a doorway. It’s a foot in the door to becoming a registered nurse. It lets me test the waters before I decide exactly what field I want to go into.”

That breadth of opportunity appealed directly to her ambitions. From pediatrics and cardiology to oncology, radiology, triage, and the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), Shelley welcomed the reality that her training opened countless doors.

Her momentum surged once classes began.

“I enjoyed every minute of it,” she said. “I was very intimidated when I first started, but my classmates were great, and we all got along really well.”

The curriculum’s emphasis on direct, practical training aligned perfectly with her strengths.

“I’m not a visual learner,” she said. “I’m a hands-on learner. Once someone shows me how to administer an injection or draw blood, I pick it right up.”

Leading by Success and Helping Others

Shelley’s instructor, Shelbi Ingham, quickly noticed her aptitude for clinical skills. Hands-on competencies like administering injections, performing venipunctures and capillary punctures, and taking vital signs became second nature. Before long, Shelley stepped up to mentor peers who needed extra practice.

“I picked things up so quickly that I was helping my peers with injections and blood draws,” she said. “I wanted to make sure everybody succeeded.”

That commitment to peer mentorship defined her tenure at the College.

“I used to help my classmates whenever they struggled,” Shelley said. “I was proud when they understood something without needing more explanation because I wanted all of us to succeed.”

Her peers and instructors were not the only ones who took note of her work ethic. After finishing the program with perfect grades and unblemished attendance, she was named valedictorian of her graduating class.

“I was shocked,” she said. “When they called my name for valedictorian, I actually wondered if there was someone else on the list. It was something I truly didn’t expect.”

Following commencement, Shelley spoke directly with a state political leader about the dedication and effort required to rise to the top of her graduating class.

Today, Shelley continues working as a caregiver while completing her final preparation for the California Medical Assistant certification examination. Although eager to step into an ambulatory clinical setting, she is approaching the transition deliberately.

“I really love what I do right now,” she said. “I’m taking things slow because I want to make sure I’m fully prepared before I make that next move.”

While her ultimate objective remains registered nursing, she views every patient interaction as foundational preparation for that next chapter.

For prospective students considering the Medical Assistant program, Shelley emphasizes that empathy must drive the decision.

“If you’re going to do this, you have to care about the position,” she said. “The whole point is compassion and empathy. If you’re only doing it for the money, this field isn’t for you.”

Looking back, Shelley recognizes that the experience reshaped her understanding of her own capabilities.

“It showed me that if I really want something and I’m willing to work for it, I can do it,” she said. “If I’m going to lose sleep and work hard at something, it might as well be for something I truly enjoy.”