Mega Doctor News
By Selene Rodriguez
When Karina Heredia first enrolled at South Texas College as a dual credit student, she never imagined she would one day help prepare the next generation of first responders at the very institution that helped shape her future.
More than a decade later, the first-generation college graduate and certified emergency medical technician (EMT) serves as a lab specialist in the college’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program while pursuing her goal of becoming a physician assistant.
“I’ve grown so much professionally because of STC,” said Heredia, 29. “Everything I know today, from communication and professionalism to something as simple as people skills, I learned here through the faculty and staff who took the time to guide me.”
Heredia’s journey at STC began in 2014 while she was still in high school. Through the college’s Dual Credit Program, she began taking classes at STC before enrolling in the Sign Language Interpreting program after graduation.
“Honestly, I didn’t know what I wanted to do,” she said. “I had a friend who was deaf and I wanted to communicate with her more. I also love learning languages, so I found my way into the Sign Language Interpreting program.”
She joined STC’s Emergency Medical Services department as a student worker in 2017 before graduating with an associate degree in Sign Language Interpreting and a Deaf Support Specialist certificate in 2018.
Through coursework and interpreting assignments in medical settings, Heredia became familiar with medical terminology and patient care, sparking an interest in healthcare that would ultimately shape her career goals.
An Anatomy class further fueled that interest, while interpreting for physician assistants, she was introduced to a profession she could see herself pursuing in the future.
“When I took my first Anatomy class and learned about the body, I loved it. I wanted to learn more,” she said. “As I worked with physician assistants during interpreting assignments, I became interested in the role and the impact they have on patients. That’s when I realized it was a path I wanted to pursue.”
While continuing to work at STC, Heredia earned a bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) in 2021 and began seeking opportunities to gain more patient care experience.
Encouraged by her mentors and colleagues at STC, she enrolled in the college’s EMT Basic program in 2022, earned her EMT certification in 2023 and stepped into her current role as a full-time EMS lab specialist.
Today, Heredia helps oversee the daily operations of STC’s EMS labs, managing inventory, maintaining equipment and coordinating the resources needed to support classroom instruction and hands-on training.
Working closely with faculty and students, she helps facilitate skills labs and simulations while preparing training mannequins, maintaining simulation equipment, organizing supplies and helping maintain the program’s three training ambulances.
“A lot of what I do happens behind the scenes, but it helps make sure students have what they need to learn and succeed,” she said.
Nearly a decade after first joining the department as a student worker, Heredia said the experience has strengthened her confidence, expanded her professional skills and reinforced her commitment to a career in healthcare.
“Not too long ago, I was in their shoes,” she said. “Being able to support students and watch them grow is one of the most rewarding parts of my job.”
Recently engaged and preparing for a new chapter in her life, Heredia plans to apply to physician assistant programs soon, crediting much of her growth to the opportunities, mentorship and experiences she has gained throughout her journey at STC.
“It’s crazy to think I’ve been with the EMS department for almost 10 years,” she said. “I love what I do and the people I work with. It’s become a second home for me. I’m comfortable here, but I also want to keep chasing my dreams.”
If accepted into a physician assistant program, Heredia hopes to remain connected to STC in any way possible and continue giving back to the institution that helped shape both her academic and professional journey.
“I came here not knowing what I wanted to do, and now I’m helping students in the same program that helped shape me,” she said. “I’m grateful for every opportunity I’ve had along the way.”
For more information on STC’s Emergency Medical Services program, visit southtexascollege.edu/academics/ems/ or call 956-872-3027.
Information source: STC
